What is the Art & Health Program?

The Art & Health Program (A&H) and the Canton Museum of Art is a unique, meaningful, and accessible art therapy offering that helps improve the health and wellness of our community. Since 2016, CMA has worked with our local health and human service agencies to provide this program – free to participants – to access to the power of art therapy to help individuals feel inspired, express themselves, build resiliency, and form greater connections to the community.

Since its inception, A&H has helped to improve the well-being and quality of life for more than 7,000 participants, including veterans and their families, victims of domestic violence, individuals recovering from addiction, and those with developmental challenges. This important program has been able to sustain and grow thanks to support from local foundations, the Ohio Arts Council, and private donors.

Who Can Use Art & Health Program Experiences?

The Museum has worked with a wide range of health and human service agencies across Stark County. Some participants and past participants include: Aultman Hospital, Aultman Compassionate Care Center, Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, Coleman Health Services, CommQuest, Domestic Violence Project, Fatherhood Coalition, Hattie Larlham, JRC (Children and Seniors), Military & First Responders Center, Pathway Caring for Children, Silo Meadows Wellness, Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery, Veterans Services, Veterans in Recovery, and many more. Some local businesses and groups — such as TimkenSteel, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, and ArtsInStark — have tapped into the A&H Program to create "art as therapy" experiences that build connections among staff, spark creativity in the workplace, and promote well-being.

How Do Art & Health Program Sessions Work?

Informed by a certified art therapist/licensed clinical counselor, the A&H Program is delivered by a teaching artist and is tailored with lesson plans based on the Museum's exhibitions and to meet the needs of participants. A&H is unique in that it is delivered in an art museum setting – emphasizing the power of art and art-making to build powerful, positive connections and expression in the face of adversity or health-related challenges. A&H group sessions can be scheduled ongoing or as one-off experiences. Sessions last approximately 2 hours and include:

• Tours of Exhibitions:
  Participants are led through exhibitions where the group leader focuses on key works of art to initiate storytelling and discussion.
   
• Reflection & Discussion:
  Participants express their feelings about the art with each other — what are the themes, what speaks to them, how can they relate to the content of the work of art (or the artist).
   
• Studio Art-making:
  The A&H grouo leader guides participants through the creative process to make their own work of art — the act of "making art" is a catalyst to express themselves, reflect on emotions, build resilience, connect with themselves and those around them, and strengthen well-being. Participants typically end A&H sessions by sharing why they created their art and what it means to them (if they are comfortable doing so).

A&H Program sessions are scheduled throughout the year, informed by CMA's changing exhibitions in Spring/Summer, Fall, and Winter.

“Expressive art-making has proven itself as an indispensable tool to promote focus, adaptability, emotional expression, and embracing the unknown,” said Max Barton, Director & CEO of CMA. "This program makes the most of CMA’s resources and expertise to offer a safe environment in which people can express themselves through art-making and connect with powerful artworks that prompt them to share emotions and connect with one another.”

The Museum has displayed community artwork in its lobby by clients from Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery, JRC, CommQuest, and other local agencies. During the course of Art & Health programs throughout the year, CMA will continue to mount community art exhibitions in its Wilkof Courtyard and lobby. Many participants in the Art & Health Program want to be a part of something, and inviting them to the Museum to participate in exhibitions strengthen self-esteem and connects them with the greater community. Art builds community and is one of our strongest assets for a vibrant, thriving place to live.

Art is an important communication channel, community connector, and expression of thoughts, emotions, reactions and opinions. It can be a culmination of a person’s life experiences and struggles. A portion of the artist is invested into every creation. The Art & Health Program focuses on the expressive act of making artwork in a relaxing atmosphere surrounded by inspiration from hundreds of years of American art.

Booking an Art & Health Program Experience

To learn more about putting an A&H program experience together for a group, contact Paula Blangger at (330) 453-7666 ext. 107, or email her at paula@cantonart.org. For more information about supporting this important community resource, contact Max Barton, CMA Director & CEO, at (330) 453-7666 ext. 100, or email him at max@cantonart.org.