The Healing Power of Art

Taking to heart that all can benefit from experiences in the arts, we work at making the arts accessible to people from all walks of life through both short- and long-term programming. A new field of research, Neuroaesthetics or neuroarts, does quantitative studies of how arts experiences positively affect the brain. Test results demonstrate that arts interactions have extensive therapeutic outcomes to both physical and mental health. This perfectly ties into our Art & Healing partnership program.

Articulture partners with social service, health, and other nonprofit organizations who serve vulnerable populations. Arts curriculum is purposefully designed for each partnership to best support the specific needs of their client communities. We have worked with at-risk children and teens, people with developmental disabilities, substance abuse recovery programs, those suffering from mental illness, the houseless, neurodivergent students, and more.

In an atmosphere of trust and nurturing, participants learn new skills and artistic techniques through the creative process. They begin to understand that it’s not just for personal expression, but can also be used for change—as a tool for healing, meditation, self-esteem, and solace. Arts learning creates an environment for cognitive development, art and healing, social interaction through communal experiences, in addition to the more obvious benefits of personal enrichment.  In addition to personal experiences, Art & Healing participating clients often establish a powerful communal kinship that can help break a sense of isolation.

Art & Healing Programs

Upcoming Partnership:

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Articulture are presently teaming up to establish an ongoing creative Art and Healing class program/peer support group. Both organizations are in the process of seeking funding for this exciting new partnership that will be open to individuals living with mental health issues and want to be in a safe atmosphere of sharing and support. Program start date will be announced when funding is secured.

Examples of Past Programs:

Mental Health 

  • Touchstone Mental Health provides one-on-one rehabilitation skills and support to people in the community with a diagnosis of mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, or borderline personality disorder. Their interest in the healing power of the arts beautifully lined up with our programming for a long-term partnership using Art & Healing classes both in our studio space and at several of their living facilities in the Metro area. (2013 – 2023) – Grant funded by E.A. Michelson Philanthropy 

  • Hope Community serves people through housing and other services. Short-term Art & Healing classes were taught in a group home to adult men with severe mental illnesses. These classes gave them arts access to explore personal expression, have solace, and a positive emotional outlet in their own safe environment. (2016) – Funded by Hope Community

  • People Incorporated offers a number of services to adults with mental illnesses. Our partnership program offered arts instruction in our studio classrooms specifically for their very diverse group of BIPOC and white clients wanting to participate. These clients struggled with one or more mental health diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, depression, acute anxiety, chemical dependency, and schizophrenia. The focus of these classes centered both on skill-building and using art as a source of joy, self-expression and personal healing. (2012 - 2015) – Grant funded by MN State Arts Board (MSAB) 

Homelessness

  • Our Savior’s Community Services offers housing services including helping individuals who are attempting to transition out of houselessness. Our Art & Healing classes were part of their structured programming, helping individuals work on feelings of self-worth, self-reliance, and gain an understanding of resiliency. (2013 - 2014) – Grant funded by MSAB 

Recovery from Addiction

  • Wayside Recovery Center is an alcohol and substance dependency treatment center for gender-specific needs of low-income women. Articulture created a full year of Art & Healing arts access programming for clients. The participants learned how the arts can alter personal perception and understanding of destructive behaviors, and encourage the development of positive recuperative change. The arts curriculum was made up of visual arts, poetry, and journaling classes as tools for self-discovery, reflection, and healing. The program focused on the creation of artist books that included visual, written journaling, and poetry. The goal was to help with their changing personal identity and feelings of self-worth using art as a tool for healing, meditation, and personal growth. (2010 - 11) – Grant funded by the MSAB

Adults with Disabilities 

  • Partnership Resources Inc (PRI), offers day programming for adults with mental and physical disabilities. A successful three-year funded program of art classes was offered weekly to adults with mental and physical disabilities. Curriculum and materials were adapted to individual student physical and mental needs and abilities. Students saw our teachers as wonderfully supportive, and our handicapped accessible classrooms and sinks as a luxury. (2008 - 2011) – Grant funded by MSAB.

At Risk Teens and Children

  • Artist-in-residence for houseless elementary students. Articulture was requested to create an artist-in-residence program in a charter school (now shuttered) for homeless students who did not have arts access. Realizing that school was the one constant for these students and that this place was “theirs'', Articulture decided to focus on the concept of community. We had each grade identify what made up the different aspects of what makes up a community. Through a three-month process they created four large quilted fabric banners to permanently install in their halls. (2012) – Funded through a gift from Walker Church 

  • Art Slam, created and administered by Articulture, was a partnership project with several Minneapolis Libraries, YMCA teen programs and three centers for homeless youth in both Twin Cities. Alternate classes of spoken word poetry and handmade artist books were given at each site for ten weeks. A final gathering from all sites took place at the theater in the downtown Minneapolis public library. This culminating event was a spoken word performance of student poetry workshopped in the classes and a gallery showcase of their handmade artist journal books. (2007 - 2008) – Grant funded by MSAB