Hagerstown Community College is happy to announce its fifth annual Big Read initiative, open to all students, faculty, staff, and the community. The 2026 Big Read is a book by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen, entitled, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us.

About the Book

Many of us think of the arts as entertainment of an escape. A luxury of some kind. This book will show you that the arts are so much more. From artists David Byrne and Renée Fleming to evolutionary biologist E.O.Wilson, this book is a journey of discovery and an authoritative guide to the new science of neuroaesthetics that weaves a vibrant tapestry of breakthrough research, insights from multidisciplinary pioneers, and compelling stories from people who are using the arts to make a positive impact on our day-to-day life.

Your Brain on Art isn’t a plea to “bring back the arts.” It’s a call-to-arms for the radical integration of the arts with science and technology to design a more humane future. It’s about creating a new ethos that brings together different realms of human knowledge and experience to shape the future. It’s a fresh way of thinking and addressing the increasingly complex problems that face us. This book is perfectly poised to elevate this moment and bring it to the center of our cultural conversation.

Learn more on the Your Brain on Art website.

Activities on Campus

Throughout the year there will be several activities related to the concepts in this book. Stay tuned for a list of events!