Why Neuroarts Matters: Bama Lutes Deal on Arts, Science & Community
In this episode, I sit down with Bama Lutes Deal, a musicologist, consultant, and passionate advocate for the arts, whose journey has taken her across disciplines—bridging music, culture, business, science, and technology. Bama’s story begins with her deep love of music and her training as a musicologist, where she studied music not only as sound, but as a cultural and historical force that shapes our lives. From there, she built a career that spans management consulting, writing, arts management, higher education, and community development. What ties all of this together is her ability to combine creative and critical thinking to solve complex challenges. Today, Bama is deeply involved in the emerging field of neuroarts—a place where science, the arts, and technology meet. As a consultant for the Palm Beach County Neuroarts Collaborative, she is helping map out local partners, programs, and research to strengthen how the arts support health and well-being in South Florida. In our conversation, she takes time to expand on what neuroarts really means, and why it is so important for the future of health, education, and society. But Bama’s passion doesn’t stop at theory and research—she is also an advocate for artists, helping them share their work, find ways to market themselves, and build supportive networks within their communities. She reminds us that the arts are not just “nice to have,” but essential to who we are as human beings. We also talk about the power of nature and aesthetics, and how both play a vital role in healing and inspiring us. Bama’s insights remind us that when creativity, science, and community come together, we open doors to healthier, more connected, and more beautiful ways of living.
South Africa