Create: Connection - For Caregivers
Are you a caregiver or know someone who would benefit from art therapy who is?
The Art Experience has been awarded a grant of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan to pilot a 12 week art therapy program for caregivers of loved ones aged 55 and better.
Space is limited, and we are planning to start the program at the end of June.
To find out more, and to start the sign up process, please read the information on this page, and complete the google form linked in the button below.
Our Target Participants
Our specific goals for this project are to support the emotional, psycho-social and physical well-being of caregivers in our community by practicing mindful and guided art experiences administered by a registered Art Therapist. According to the CDC, Caregiving is an important health public health issue and can lead to illnesses like heart disease, stroke, asthma, depressive disorder and diabetes, due to the neglect of a caregiver’s own needs. The Art Experience and its Art Therapists understand how making art can lower the body’s stress hormone levels, which often leads to improved physical and emotional wellbeing as well as interpersonal relationships.
The physical and emotional demands that caregivers endure require a degree of resilience. Providing care for the care giver through creative self expression with ongoing support and encouragement, will provide an opportunity for the caregiver and the person receiving the care to connect and share time in a more playful manner, where more joy and laughter are elicited than feelings of being a burden or resentment.
We would like to invite caregivers who fulfill our grant parameters to join us both virtually and in studio for an exclusive fully funded 12 week art therapy experience. Both group and one on one sessions are part of the plan.
What's the Plan?
Projects will be designed to be inclusive, completed over some time, and produce pride worthy results. Each project will also build upon the confidence and techniques used in previous projects. The reinforcement of some of those learned artistic techniques will allow for their use outside of the pilot program.
Materials proposed for these projects include art journals, watercolor art papers, watercolor paints, sharpies, canvas, acrylic paint, collage materials, recycled materials, paint brushes, palettes and will be mailed/distributed to participants at 4 times throughout the 12 week period.
During that time, the Art Therapist will host regular office hours in The Art Experience’s Open Studio program, should participants be interested in participating during the week in creative and supportive self expression in the community using materials other than the ones we have provided. The Art Therapist will also provide up to 50 minute sessions for individuals weekly, which will include time for keeping notes on each caregiver participant--this will be done at the discretion of the participant, either in person, virtually, or via telephone.
Artwork made by the caregiver participants and potentially the ones they provide care for, is not required to be a part of the culminating exhibit--in fact, art work made during art therapy sessions is confidential to the session and owned by the maker. Participants will be asked to select their favorites, if they have one, to be a part of the exhibit, in an effort to share their story, and raise the awareness of the important role that caregivers play in our society.
These sessions collectively will create a healthy self-care practice that is sustainable and shareable while playing the role of caregiver.
We would like to thank you!
The caretaker community gives so much to help take care of those in need, we feel so grateful to be able to offer something for THEM in return. If you would like to be a part of this brand new program all you need to to is fill out our very simple form on Google Docs. IF you have any questions about this program please contact the facilitator of this program, registered Art Therapist, Lisa@theartexperience.org