NEUROARTS CONFERENCE
Prescribing and Thriving: Creative Pathways to Wellness
Saturday, March 28 at 9AM
Picower Foundation Arts Education Center
Fredrick Johnson, Conference Curator
Chris Appelton, Keynote Speaker
Discover how the arts can play a pivotal role in healing and wellness. Nationally recognized leaders in this ground-breaking field share how the arts can improve physical and mental health as well as prevent, manage and assist in recovery from illness. The conference will focus on theoretical presentations in the morning, informal reflection discussions over lunch and practical arts activations in the afternoon.
Whether you’re an artist, educator, physician, therapist, a care giver, an individual living with neurodegenerative diseases and disorders or a family member—this event is for you.
$65 in person 9AM-4:45PM includes boxed lunch provided by Kravis Events by Lessing’s
$25 virtual webinar: Keynote Presentation & panel discussion 9AM-12PM
*Please note that the virtual conference includes the keynote speaker and panel discussion, not the workshops.
Frederick Johnson – Conference Curator
Frederick Johnson is a community engagement specialist at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL, and a renowned artist, educator, and social justice advocate. Johnson has spent the last 45 years creating spaces where art and creative expression have been used to empower and give voice to less privileged communities and provide safe and equitable forums where compassionate and authentic stories can be shared, in an effort to transcend fear and division and create trust and transformation. Mentored by masters of the West African oral and healing traditions, Johnson brings ancient wisdom and practices into a contemporary setting, reexamining the healing power and importance of artistic expression and its aesthetic relevance.
Chris Appleton – Keynote Speaker
Chris Appleton is the Founder and CEO of Art Pharmacy, a social prescribing company that works with partners in healthcare, education, and workforce management to address the dual mental health and loneliness crises in the United States.
Chris holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management with a Certificate in Healthcare Leadership. Appleton and his work have been featured in the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, CNN, Forbes, ABC, CBS, NPR, TEDx, Fast Company, and more.
Appleton’s strong commitment to servant leadership, family, and civic engagement has led him to be bestowed numerous awards and honors, including the Americans for the Arts National Emerging Leader Award, Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Inaugural Healthcare Champion Award, Emory Center for Creativity and the Arts Community Impact Award, Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40, Georgia Trend’s 100 Notable Georgians, World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers, New Leaders Council Alumni Award, 2019 Class of Leadership Atlanta and Outstanding Atlanta Class of 2014.
His service includes is his role as a member of the Board of Directors with the Foundation for Social Connection and the Grady Hospital Ambassador Force Advisory Board, creating awareness and providing vital support for the Grady Health System. Appleton has served on numerous additional boards including the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board, Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Council, Atlanta Celebrates Photography, Alliance Theatre Advisory Board, Health Connect South Advisory Board and more.
At the heart of Chris’s life’s work, he believes that lasting, sustainable change happens when people work across boundaries and barriers. Appleton and his wife, Annie, who works for Sartain Lanier Family Foundation, live in Atlanta with their two young children.
Suzanne Ankrum-Harris
Suzanne Ankrum-Harris is an actor, director, educator and teaching artist based in Jupiter, FL. She earned her MFA in Acting from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and has continued studying in her professional life engaging with additional acting, voice, and movement training throughout her professional career. Suzanne has performed at various regional theatres including the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Gable Stage, Island City Stage, Clarence Brown Theatre, Palm Beach Dramaworks, WAM Theatre, and Ivoryton Playhouse. In 2024, Suzanne was selected as one of the Palm Beach Cultural Council’s Artist Innovation Fellows and subsequently co-founded the physical-theatre company, Sea Change Collective. As an educator, Suzanne has led workshops and courses for Hartford Stage, Momentum Stage, SUNY-Albany, The Hartt School, Lynn University, Hartbeat Ensemble, and Housatonic Community College in addition to working for several years as core faculty at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Suzanne is a proud member of Actors’ Equity.
Kori Epps is a dance educator who specializes in creative dance for all, along with integrating movement to teach academic concepts. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Wisconsin, performed in the Demetrius Klein Dance Company for over fifteen years, and served as Associate Artistic Director. Her foundations are in ballet, modern dance, and improvisation. Asserting that every body can dance, she leads classes for all ages, levels, and abilities. Kori is also currently on the board of the Natural Movers Foundation.
Joy Berendt is a professionally trained Soprano vocalist who has been performing for over 20 years. Joy studied vocal performance at Carson Newman University. She then earned her B.M. in Music Therapy with a Voice Principal and Minor in Psychology from University of Miami. Joy is a clinical Board Certified Music Therapist & Intern Supervisor, working with patients and clients of varying populations since 2012. She works with all ages & varying abilities; with a specific passion for working with clients with neurodegenerative diseases & hospice patients. Joy enjoys helping others utilize the power of music to enhance their daily lives.
Emmanuel Fergile, M.A., M.Ed., is an elementary music educator and instructional leader with extensive experience in arts integration, teacher leadership, and student engagement. He teaches K–5 general music at Highland Elementary School and directs multiple performance ensembles. Emmanuel has served as a presenter for district and regional professional development, including Elementary Music Educators’ workshops and South Florida Orff Chapter Chapter-Share sessions. A former president-elect of the South Florida Orff Chapter and Orff Level III certified educator, he is passionate about culturally responsive instruction, collaborative leadership, and developing equitable access to high-quality arts education.
Jose R. Mendez is a self-taught artist, educator, curator, and co-founder of Day of the Dead Lake Worth Beach and Taco Fiesta Palm Springs. Through his small business, R. Dot Arts & Creative Agency, he collaborates with cultural institutions such as the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Norton Museum of Art, and the Children’s Service Council of Palm Beach County. His work is inspired by healing through the arts, the automotive aftermarket industry, American Indigenous traditions, and his Maya heritage. He lives and creates in Palm Beach County, Florida. Learn more at www.josemendez.art
Richard Perdomo is a certified Sound Healer with a unique approach shaped by over 30 years in the corporate IT sector. His personal journey from the high-pressure corporate environment to holistic practice provides a unique understanding of stress and the profound need for calm and ease in modern life.
With three years of experience, Richard specializes in facilitating restorative sound baths throughout the Fort Lauderdale area. He utilizes a variety of instruments, including gongs and crystal singing bowls, to create immersive soundscapes that guide participants into a state of deep relaxation and inner peace.
His mission is to use the power of sound to help clients manage stress, relax their nervous systems, and find balance in their busy lives.
WORKSHOPS ARE AVAILABLE TO IN-PERSON CONFERENCE ATTENDEES ONLY
Schedule
| Time | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30-9AM | Registration | Persson Lobby |
| 8:30-9AM | Sound Bath | Persson Hall |
| 9-9:30AM | Opening Remarks | Persson Hall |
| 9:30-10:15AM | Keynote speaker Chris Appleton | Persson Hall |
| 10:15-10:30AM | Keynote Q&A | Persson Hall |
| 10:30-10:35AM | Break | Persson Hall |
| 10:35-11:50AM | Panel Discussion (Moderator: Fred Johnson, Panelists: Chris Appleton, TBA, TBA) | Persson Hall |
| 11:50 AM-1:15PM | Lunch | Dance Rehearsal Hall |
| 1:15-2:15PM | Concurrent Arts Workshop Activations | Dance Studio, Classroom, Music A |
| 2:15-2:30PM | Break & Workshop Reset | Dance Studio, Classroom, Music A |
| 2:30-3:30PM | Concurrent Arts Workshop Activations | Dance Studio, Classroom, Music A |
| 3:30-4:30PM | Reflections and Q&A Session | Persson Hall |
| 4:30-4:45PM | Closing Remarks | Persson Hall |
*Program subject to change
NEUROARTS FAQs
What do I wear to this event?
There is no dress code. Wear something comfortable, we recommend a light sweater.
What can I expect from this event?
Information booths, sound bath and speakers in the morning. In-person attendees will participate in workshops and a post event Q&A with the speakers.
What is the purpose of the event?
The goal of the day is to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application within the arts and healing communities.
I have a specific question, who can I contact?
For questions, contact [email protected].
