Embedding Arts and Culture into American National Policy

New economic and medical research suggests policymakers should treat arts and culture as strategic national assets. Yet in the United States, the arts remain undervalued. The creative sector generates nearly 5% of gross domestic product and supports 5.4 million jobs, surpassing agriculture and transportation in economic impact. Medical research reveals that arts and culture produce measurable neurological effects—leading to faster patient recovery, better student outcomes, and stronger community cohesion.

In October 2025, in partnership with International Arts & Artists, Sunnylands hosted bipartisan leaders from government, journalism, philanthropy, civil society, medicine, and the technology and creative sectors to develop an actionable framework to embed arts and culture into national policymaking.

The retreat reframed the arts as essential national infrastructure—described by a participant as America’s “superpower”—aligning participants around five pillars for bipartisan policy coordination, including economic development, health, education, veterans’ affairs, and global engagement.