How Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM) Inspired Mental Health Conversations with Hip Hop

How can we create spaces where students feel safe enough to open up about their mental health in a world still weighed down by stigma? This question lay at the core of The Release: Hip-Hop, Art & Mental Health – an initiative designed to create meaningful conversations about mental well-being through creative expression and cultural connection.

The project was inspired by The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century exhibition at the Saint Louis Art Museum (SLAM), which highlighted hip-hop’s profound influence on contemporary art and culture. This exhibition served as a springboard for exploring how creativity and self-expression could address pressing mental health issues within the community.

Beyond the walls of the museum, this celebration extended into the heart of the community through a transformative partnership with Harris-Stowe State University. Together, they created The Release: Hip-Hop, Art & Mental Health – a public event aimed at using the power of hip-hop and creative expression to address mental health challenges.

Andréa Purnell from SLAM shared the story behind the project at the Museums, Health & Well-Being Summit 2024.

The Power of Partnership: Museums and Universities Unite

Harris-Stowe State University holds a unique position as St. Louis’s only Historically Black College and University (HBCU). With a mission to empower underserved communities through accessible, quality education, Harris-Stowe has long championed initiatives that address the well-being of its students. In partnering with SLAM, the university bridged two powerful platforms: art and education.

The collaboration stemmed from SLAM’s desire to take The Culture exhibition beyond traditional museum spaces. Rather than confining the conversation to gallery walls, the partnership prioritised community engagement, embedding the exhibition’s themes of creativity, resilience, and cultural pride into a broader dialogue about mental health.

At the heart of this initiative was Dr Aline Phillips, Assistant Provost for Retention and Student Success at Harris-Stowe. Her leadership underscored the importance of creating spaces where students and the community could openly explore mental health through artistic expression.

The Release: A Safe Space for Expression

The Release was not just an event but an experience. Held on the Harris-Stowe campus, it combined creative workshops, interactive art installations, and deeply personal conversations. Each activity was designed to help participants reflect, release, and heal.

One of the standout contributors to the event was Tremont Pierre Davis, a Harris-Stowe alumnus with a background in psychology. Tasked with leading an interactive art workshop, Davis crafted an experience titled Your Story Matters. Participants were invited to choose colours representing people, emotions, and experiences that shaped their lives. Through painting and guided reflection, attendees created deeply personal artworks that served as both a creative outlet and a tool for self-discovery.

For many, the act of painting became more than just an artistic exercise. It was a moment of vulnerability and connection, breaking down barriers that often prevent open conversations about mental health.

Breaking Stigmas Through Creative Practice

In many underserved communities, including those served by Harris-Stowe, mental health remains a taboo subject. Cultural stigmas often portray seeking help as a sign of weakness, leaving many individuals to suffer in silence.

The Release tackled these barriers head-on. By weaving hip-hop’s cultural authenticity and emotional resonance into the event, organisers created a space where conversations about mental health felt natural and relatable.

The presence of hip-hop as a central theme wasn’t accidental. For decades, hip-hop has served as a voice for the voiceless, addressing social issues, personal struggles, and community resilience. At The Release, this cultural power became a bridge, connecting art, music, and mental health in a way that resonated deeply with attendees.

The Nest: A Lasting Legacy

One of the most significant outcomes of The Release was the development of The Nest – a permanent wellbeing space on the Harris-Stowe campus. Designed to offer students a refuge for relaxation, reflection, and emotional support, The Nest is a tangible legacy of the partnership between SLAM and Harris-Stowe.

Dr Cammie Connor, Director of Counselling and Prevention Services at Harris-Stowe, emphasised the importance of spaces like The Nest in fostering long-term mental health support. The creation of such spaces reflects a growing recognition within both educational and cultural institutions of their responsibility to support emotional and psychological well-being.

Lessons for Museum Professionals

For museum professionals, The Release offers valuable insights into how exhibitions can extend beyond their physical spaces to create meaningful community impact:

1. Collaborate Authentically: Partnerships with universities, schools, or community organisations can amplify a museum’s reach and relevance.
2. Address Real-World Issues: Exhibitions should not exist in isolation. By connecting to social issues like mental health, museums can remain vital spaces for dialogue and change.
3. Embrace Cultural Resonance: Hip-hop, as a cultural force, brought authenticity and emotional connection to The Release. Museums can harness similar cultural touchpoints to connect with diverse audiences.
4. Invest in Lasting Change: Initiatives like The Nest demonstrate the power of creating lasting infrastructure to support community well-being.

The Future of Museums and Mental Health

Mental health is no longer an ancillary issue for cultural institutions. As societal awareness grows, museums have an opportunity—and arguably a responsibility—to create spaces that support emotional well-being.

Events like The Release illustrate how museums can leverage their platforms to foster connection, healing, and dialogue. Through thoughtful partnerships, creative programming, and a commitment to community engagement, museums can become powerful advocates for mental health.

For the Saint Louis Art Museum and Harris-Stowe State University, The Release was not the end of a project but the beginning of a movement. It serves as an inspiring example of how art, culture, and collaboration can create meaningful change—one brushstroke, one conversation, and one connection at a time.

Create, Reflect, Heal

For museum professionals, the message is clear: art is not just about what hangs on the walls; it’s about what happens when we invite people to create, reflect, and heal. As museums continue to navigate their role in a rapidly changing world, initiatives like The Release remind us of the transformative power of cultural spaces.

At its core, The Release wasn’t just about celebrating hip-hop or creating art. It was about giving people permission to let go, to share their stories, and to heal—together.

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Andréa Purnell from Saint Louis Art Museum spoke about The Release at the Museums, Health & Well-Being Summit 2024.