Program disclaimer:

Please note that the sessions for Art Speaks! Virtual Art Group are not art therapy or group therapy sessions. The instructor for this program is a professional artist and is not a mental health professional, licensed medical professional, or art therapist.

Purpose:

The purpose of Art Speaks! Virtual Art Group is to create a virtual, non-judgmental environment for participants to explore and observe feelings through art, such as coloring, painting, crafts, and drawing. Participants will also learn coping strategies for stress relief and channelling emotions in a healthy way.

Goal:

Participants will use the creative process for self-expression of thoughts and feelings in order to become familiar with using this process for self-care.

Program Objectives:

Objective 1. Youth will participate in monthly virtual art sessions.

Objective 2. Youth will use art as a form of self-expression.

Objective 3. Youth will identify two benefits of art as it relates to self-improvement during each session.

Each participant will be working toward this goal and these objectives. Each participant will be able to use these sessions creatively to support their own development.

Participants will:

• Learn to express themselves freely through art
• Utilize different mediums such as acrylic paint, watercolors, oil pastels, and colored pencils
• Explore different types of art

Format:

Our instructor is a professional artist that will work with participants virtually using Zoom and will guide participants in working in their art journal and creating art from the comfort of their own home. Through these art group sessions, we are providing an outlet for participants to explore their own creativity and imagination and have the opportunity to work with different mediums. The key skills that will be addressed are: creativity, confidence, problem solving, focus, non-verbal communication, collaboration, and accountability. It is our hope that these creative interventions will spark the imagination and creativity of participants to desire to learn more about art, explore working with different art mediums, graphic art, and/or develop an interest in pursuing a productive activity that they enjoy, that could also serve as a positive coping strategy.

Interested youth (along with their parent or guardian) are required to complete the Artist Assessment. Selected participants and/or their parents must review the Art Speaks! Virtual Art Group guidelines with their child and complete the enrollment/permission form. Both the parent and child are required to review, agree to the terms, and sign the form with an electronic signature. Upon completion of these steps, the participant will receive the session schedule,  Zoom link, and the art kit will be shipped to their home.

In order to keep our session sizes small, there will be limited spaces available. Sessions will meet on Zoom monthly, on the second Thursday of each month, from 6-7pm. Enrolled youth will participate in four sessions. After the fourth session, participants will be asked to complete a post-session assessment. After this assessment is completed, participants will receive a Michaels gift card (in the mail) to replenish their art supplies in their art kit.

Each enrolled participant will receive an Art Speaks! Virtual Art Group Kit that contains:

• Multipurpose sketch book (art journal)
• Pencils
• Erasers
• Colored pencils
• Oil pastels
• Paint brushes
• Black Sharpie markers
• Glue stick
• A list of art prompts for painting and drawing