$77,000 grant aims to promote mental, physical, social well-being utilizing a
non-clinical approach and experiences in the arts, culture, and nature.
Villa Musica will Expand their Musical Biographies Program
Serving San Diego Seniors with Dementia
San Diego, CA, Feb 12, 2026 — Villa Musica, San Diego’s Community Music Center
today announced it has received a renewal grant of $77,000 from Prebys Foundation as
part of the Foundation’s Healing Through Arts and Nature initiative, which supports
organizations delivering community-based programs that use arts, culture, and nature to
support healing and well-being across San Diego County. This is the second year Villa
Musica, San Diego’s Community Music Center has been funded to support and expand
their Musical Biographies Program, serving San Diego Seniors with Dementia.
“We’re honored to be one of the 50 nonprofits expanding access to the healing power of the arts
and nature with support from the Prebys Foundation,” shared Dr. Fiona Chatwin, Executive and
Artistic Director of Villa Musica “The Prebys Foundation is making such an enormous impact in
San Diego’s non profit sector’s growth and sustainability. As we enter our 20th year in operation,
their support allows us to expand our Musical Biographies program, an initiative that is very dear
to us. In partnership with the UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, this
program was designed to bring together people with all forms of dementia, their care-givers, and
family in a unique multi-sensorial experience that centers around music and memory.
Participants work with Villa Musica teaching artists, care partners, and extended family members
to identify music that inspires memory; memory of an important occasion, an event, an era, and
then design and decorate a personal memory book that brings their musical choices to life. The
support from The Prebys Foundation will allow us to expand the number of seniors we serve – by
creating the Musical Biographies website, training videos, and modular curriculum that can be
downloaded for folks all over the country..”
Now in its second year, the 2026 Healing Through Arts and Nature initiative supports 50
nonprofit organizations with a total investment of $5.2 million dedicated to non-clinical
approaches to supporting emotional, physical, and social well-being, such as engaging in the
arts or spending time in nature.
Proven Benefits of Healing Through Arts and Nature
Growing research highlights the physical and emotional health benefits of spending time
outdoors. Access to natural spaces like parks or water is linked to lower stress levels, increased
physical activity, and higher life expectancy. Studies also suggest that nature can enhance focus
and attention, particularly for individuals with attention deficit and related conditions.
Additionally, engaging in the arts can reduce social isolation by strengthening
relationships, fostering a sense of belonging, alleviating stress and anxiety, and enhancing
self-esteem and self-awareness.
“Healing doesn’t happen in just one place, and access to it shouldn’t depend on who you are or
where you live,” said Prebys Foundation CEO and President Grant Oliphant. “Our intention
with these grants is to honor culturally grounded approaches in arts, culture, and nature and to
reflect what we know to be true: that wellness can be nurtured in the shared spaces of everyday
life, through creativity, connection, and time in nature.”
About About Villa Musica
Villa Musica makes music accessible through education, performance and community
engagement. Founded as a 501c3 non-profit corporation in November 2005, Villa Musica is a
vibrant gathering place where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to take
music lessons, play in an ensemble, or participate in a workshop. Villa Musica’s goal is to create
a focal point for community music education in San Diego, where students and teachers can
meet to exchange ideas and experience the joy of making music. By creating a supportive and
creative environment for the study of music, we aim to inspire many San Diegans to make
music-making part of their lives. Villa Musica is a leader in providing access to high quality music
education to students of all ages and abilities. We continue to build a broad range of programs
that serve the San Diego Community at our main campus, neighborhood satellites, with
partnering organizations and schools. www.villamusica.org
About Prebys Foundation
The Prebys Foundation is the largest independent private foundation in San Diego County.
Dedicated to creating an inclusive, equitable, and dynamic future for all, the Foundation invests
in four program areas: arts and culture, youth success, health and well-being, and medical
research. Learn more at prebysfdn.org.
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