Meet the Team Behind: Sing for Hope

Sing for Hope brings the power of the arts to communities in need—placing artist-designed pianos in public spaces and delivering creative programs that spark connection, healing, and joy for people of all ages. Learn more about their work here!

Can you tell me about the history of your work? 

Sing for Hope harnesses the power of the arts to create a better world. Our creative programs bring hope, healing, and connection to millions of people in hospitals, schools, care facilities, and public spaces worldwide. We began in New York City in response to the events of 9/11, and now partner with hundreds of community-based organizations, mobilize thousands of artists in creative service, and produce artist-created Sing for Hope Pianos across the United States and around the world.

What do your programs entail? 

Sing for Hope Pianos is a global arts program that creates artist-designed pianos, places them in public spaces for everyone to enjoy, then transports and activates them year-round in schools, hospitals, and community centers worldwide. Our education program provides dynamic arts classes, workshops, and standards-based initiatives that inspire positive action and uplift youth, educators, and communities. The Public Health & Wellbeing program creates research-based arts interventions that foster wellness and connection in partnership with hospitals, care facilities, community centers, and public spaces. 

How does your workforce development program help artists?

Our Creative Workforce Development program is the engine that powers all of our programming through a sustainable, artist-centered approach to public health, creative aging, and community wellbeing. The program supports artists as creative placemakers and arts-in-health practitioners in an approach that fosters connection, safety, and belonging. In collaboration with expert trainers and researchers, artists gain the tools to create inclusive arts interventions across care and community settings, while deepening their own creative practice. Sing for Hope artists are vital collaborators who uplift the communities they serve and, in turn, enrich their artistry through shared moments of healing, joy, and meaning.

Can you explain Sing for Hope’s global reach? 

Our cultural diplomacy work provides creative advocacy, leadership, and program design that drive the integration of the arts in policy, peace-building, and global convenings on social change. Sing for Hope created the first-ever arts panel at The Skoll World Forum for Social Entrepreneurship at Oxford University and we’ve presented cultural diplomacy programming to organizations including Aspen Ideas Festival, Harvard University, The Fletcher School at Tufts University, The Kennedy Center, and the United Nations, where SFH has partnered with UNICEF and the High-level Political Forum since 2019. Sing for Hope is also the official Cultural Partner of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates.