Dissonance is an arts organization. It’s also a mental health organization. And a recovery support organization. Dissonance is the tension - or even clashing - between two disharmonious elements. In both music and psychology, dissonance is the source of cognitive confusion, discomfort, conflict, or distress. People experience dissonance when they are confronted with information that is inconsistent with their beliefs. Dissonance is:
The musician who has been sober for years but makes a living playing in nightclubs and bars. The artist who believes they have to isolate to create but desperately wants to connect with others. The person who thinks they have a problem but doesn’t know where to go for help. The friend and ally who wants to offer support without saying or doing the wrong thing. There is a romanticized notion that you must be in great pain to make great art. This myth has normalized destructive behavior amongst artist and fans, and created business practices that often perpetuate it. We often venerate artists that are troubled and unstable, and while saddened, are not always surprised when another creative soul loses their life to drugs or mental illness. Our Mission:
Dissonance examines the intersection of creativity and wellbeing, working to create safe spaces, smash social stigmas, and shape education and business practices relating to mental health, addiction, and compassion in the arts. In short, we want to contribute to a healthier environment in the arts community. Collectively, we need to find new ways to support, sustain, and celebrate creativity. Who We Are:
Dissonance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run by a board of directors with experience in the fields of mental health, arts administration, marketing, management, recovery, education, advocacy, music, and theater. Contact Dissonance to learn about resources, offerings, and how to get involved. What We Do:
Dissonance is a resource for artists, industry folks, educators, healthcare providers, and fans. We produce events, collect stories, and share insights from people who have lived experience relating to our mission. This space is here to continue the conversation, to collect and compare resources.
