Culture in East Harlem


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To research the final outcome of this project, my partner Andrea and I began by visiting a few of East Harlem’s cultural institutions such as Museo del Barrio, City Museum of New York, the Apollo Theater, as well as some street art landmarks. We decided to focus on the idea that health transcends not being ill, by showing that it has several components that include spiritual, emotional, social, mental, environmental, and physical well-being. After reading a few studies we found strong correlations between positive outlooks on life, lower levels of stress, better self-worth and social identity with the exposure to art and music. Since East Harlem has such important historial cultural heritage, it seems essential to invest in spaces where the community can engage with both music and art. It is a way of addressing health from its source as opposed of simply treating the symptoms. By increasing people’s involvement and exposure in ways that allow them to celebrate the complexity of their culture, a sense of community can be positively influenced- having direct impacts on general well-being. Our recommendation would be to invest in things such as concerts, artist residency’s, and art exhibitions that are accessible to everyone.

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