Ozmo : A path to healing and hope By Dr. Žak Ozmo | Special to The Daily Memphian

In my family, the arts are seen as something higher, something special, something that lifts our lives above our current circumstances and gives perspective to our existence. Music, especially, has been a source of strength; it reminds us of who we are. It helps us overcome, persevere and achieve. It reflects the divine and has enveloped us in the best humanity is capable of when we are faced with the worst.

My family’s journey has been filled with struggles and tragedies. In the 1990s, I was a war refugee, the only person from my immediate family who managed to escape the utter devastation of the civil war in my native Bosnia and Herzegovina. The grief that I carry is profound, but over the years, it has transformed into an acute awareness of perspective. A perspective on how valuable every moment of this life is, how precious its joys are, and how well we could all live if we work together with even the basic level of selflessness and consideration. And what most of us need is hope, acknowledgment and a path to a better future for ourselves and those we love.

When I first set foot in Memphis, I was immediately struck by the emotional resonance of my surroundings. The struggles, losses and hopes of this city, though different from my own, felt strangely familiar. It was no surprise that music holds such a significant place in the heart of this community. Like my family, Memphis draws strength from its music, and I am confident that this shared passion can guide us into a brighter future.

Today, I am thrilled to be able to put that belief into practice and announce the establishment of the Ozmo Institute for Neuroaesthetics. This institute will serve as the focal point for a city-wide, inter-departmental and inter-institutional effort in Memphis dedicated to advancing the application of the arts in healing. The institute’s initial focus will be on the transformative potential of sound and music in health and well-being.

Neuroaesthetics, an emerging discipline, explores the profound impact of music, visual arts and architecture on the human brain, health and behavior. Groundbreakings research in the realm of arts-based healing is being conducted by the world’s foremost researchers and scientists, including those at MIT, Harvard and the University of Toronto.

Studies have shown that music and sound can be more effective in reducing anxiety than traditional pharmacological approaches. Moreover, they have proven effective in treating depression by facilitating the generation of new neurons in the brain. Specific frequencies of sound have even been shown to slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The potential applications across various medical disciplines are vast, with music’s healing potential only beginning to be understood.

In collaboration with our community partners throughout Memphis, we aim to make the healing properties of music and sound accessible to every home and organization in the city through scientific research and practical applications. The initiative will be deeply integrated into the fabric of the city through partnerships with community stakeholders, including leading educational and research institutions, arts organizations, religious groups, musicians, artists, businesses and volunteers, positioning it as a cornerstone of Memphis’ cultural and civic life.

The new institute’s holistic approach aims to improve the health and quality of life in Memphis, foster community cohesion, help reduce crime rates, bolster the economy and strengthen connections between Memphians and their city’s leading institutions. It is partly guided by the knowledge of how music and arts have historically been used to help societies overcome severe challenges.

In addition to a tremendous benefit to the health and wellness of the Memphis community, this initiative has a clear potential to place Memphis into the spotlight internationally. Larger centers such as New York City, London and Toronto have already expressed interest in collaborating, translating into significant potential benefits to the project and Memphis as a city.

By embarking on this ambitious journey, Memphis has the opportunity to pioneer an innovative and inclusive model of community well-being, setting a precedent for cities worldwide.

As we harness the transformative power of music to uplift our community and showcase Memphis’ cultural richness, I invite you to join us on this extraordinary journey.