What we do
Founded in 2023, ARISA is a not-for-profit organisation that integrates art, neuroscience, and psychology to promote mental well-being and drive societal change.
We deliver research and community programs to ensure creativity and knowledge are not limited by barriers of power and privilege but are accessible and empowering for all.
ARISA addresses the critical need for accessibility and interdisciplinary dialogue across the arts and sciences for holistic well-being
India stands at a critical crossroads in education and public health, with over 436 million children whose futures depend on a shift from rote learning to skill-based, holistic development that involves communication, creativity, and collaboration.
Despite progressive steps like the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Indian education system remains deeply siloed, hindering interdisciplinary dialogue essential for fostering creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving.
Studies show that integrating culture, arts, and context-based STEM learning improves student engagement and supports twenty-first-century skills, yet art education remains underfunded and undervalued, with low enrolment despite its recognized benefits (UNESCO, 2024; AISHE).
Simultaneously, mental health issues affect 15% of India’s adult population, with a staggering treatment gap of 70–92% and only 0.75 psychiatrists per 100,000 people (NMHS 2015–16; IJP).
Neuroscience has the power to deepen understanding of well-being and behavior, yet public neuroscience literacy remains low, and belief in neuromyths persists, even among educated populations.
Without accessible platforms that bridge psychology, neuroscience, and the arts—fields that can support emotional regulation, identity development, and mental health—India risks leaving millions of young people ill-equipped for the future (World Economic Forum, 2020).
There is an urgent need for intersectional and interdisciplinary spaces that democratize access to these domains, support teachers and education, and empower communities with inclusive, culturally-rooted knowledge systems.
ARISA
Research Lab
An experimental, inclusive, and open space to engage in interdisciplinary and intersectional research and dialogue at the intersection of art, psychology, neuroscience, and social justice.
We conduct research on how art impacts mental health and well-being across the lifespan, and how culture and context impact our engagement with art. We strive to empirically study and document India’s rich artistic heritage, engage in social justice initiatives, and are staunch advocates of open science principles in all our research endeavours.
ARISA
Education Hub
The ARISA Education Hub empowers people to harness the transformative power of the arts for better mental health and well-being, creative expression, critical thinking, and societal change.
We engage in diverse workshops, learning modules, lectures and more, aimed at enhancing well-being, mental health awareness, and neuroscience literacy, as well as focus on research methods, neuroaesthetics, and open science.
ARISA
Community
Canvas
ARISA's Community Canvas is a platform dedicated to making art, psychology, and neuroscience open, accessible, and equitable for everyone. Our mission is to break barriers that hinder access to mental health resources, promote neuroscience literacy, and dispel the elitism associated with the arts.
Through conversations, exchanges, blogs, workshops, performances, and art and community events, we aim to democratize science and art, making mental health and neuroscience accessible to all.
ARISA's
Creative Lab
Festival
ARISA’s Creative Lab Festival is a dynamic showcase that unites our core pillars of research, education, and community engagement. This annual festival offers an exploration of how neuroscience, psychology, and art intersect in everyday life. We invite you to explore, play, and engage in a celebration of creativity and scientific understanding!