We received this email the other day:
"I am a student at the Art Studios which offers art classes to people in the community with severe, chronic mental health conditions. We are compiling a list of resources in the Vancouver area of places where our clients can continue with their art in the community if they wish. We would like to add your group to our list. We would like to know what your eligibility criteria is and how much participating in your studio costs. "
I got back to the student right away and promised to post of their pretty cool resource. I hope they can keep it going! Most of us at our studio know that there are only a few really good places where people with mental health diagnosis can go to create art comfortably. The Arts Studios seems to be a great example. It's Facebook Fan Page explains it as being "... an innovative art and mental health program ... provide a safe, respectful and accepting community."
"I am a student at the Art Studios which offers art classes to people in the community with severe, chronic mental health conditions. We are compiling a list of resources in the Vancouver area of places where our clients can continue with their art in the community if they wish. We would like to add your group to our list. We would like to know what your eligibility criteria is and how much participating in your studio costs. "
I got back to the student right away and promised to post of their pretty cool resource. I hope they can keep it going! Most of us at our studio know that there are only a few really good places where people with mental health diagnosis can go to create art comfortably. The Arts Studios seems to be a great example. It's Facebook Fan Page explains it as being "... an innovative art and mental health program ... provide a safe, respectful and accepting community."
From what we've gathered from The Arts Studios Website, they also hold high value to the belief that recovery from mental illness and (likely) addiction can be enhanced through art: learning about it, creating it, enjoying it. I'm sure they've developed quite the peer support network around their tables. We'd love to have some of their artists drop by and hang out.
I think I saw on the site that they have pottery as a big thing there. That'd be fun to try. A couple of their participants mentioned about the art classes and that they are quite structured. They also said that they practice print making using carved ceramic tile. Now that sounds downright cool.
The studio is located at 2005 East 44th Ave., Vancouver.
I did eventually find a brochure kicking around that had "Important Information" heading under which ... well, I'll type out a bit of it out for you:
The Art Studios program is designed for people with primary diagnosis such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder or major depression.
All participants must have a professional mental health service provider with whom they meet regularly.
Applicants must live in Vancouver. (they have Vancouver Coastal Health as a major funder)
Art studio members need to be willing to learn in a group environment, receive feedback in classes, be punctual and attend classes regularly ...
I did eventually find a brochure kicking around that had "Important Information" heading under which ... well, I'll type out a bit of it out for you:
The Art Studios program is designed for people with primary diagnosis such as schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder or major depression.
All participants must have a professional mental health service provider with whom they meet regularly.
Applicants must live in Vancouver. (they have Vancouver Coastal Health as a major funder)
Art studio members need to be willing to learn in a group environment, receive feedback in classes, be punctual and attend classes regularly ...