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Experience the Art of Healing.
Art for Healing, Art for Joy, Art for All Campaign
Why give?
ART for ALL’s purpose is fundamentally to bring happiness and joy through the transformative power of art. The Art for Healing, Art for Joy, Art for All Campaign, reaffirms our dedication to creating a community where the healing power of art touches everyone. We invite you to join us in our mission to make a lasting impact through art.
Interested in what AfA members have to say about art and mental health? Check out our AfA Voices blog!
What did we do in 2024?
Art for All has made a significant contribution to the vibrancy and wellbeing of the Village of West Concord, the larger community, and the lives of the many individuals who have participated in our programs. In 2024 we focused on amplifying 3 of our values: inclusion, connection, and community.
INCLUSION: Our Art for All Abilities (AfAA) program for people with cognitive and developmental disabilities grew to three weekly workshops. It has been inspiring to watch our members enjoy making art, become more confident, and form friendships. AfAA members have not only developed skills and confidence in using various materials and tools, but they've also found their voices through art. Whether it’s showcasing their work in our exhibits or participating in community events, like walking in the Patriots Parade with the DEI commission or the Pride Parade, their growth and enthusiasm are evident. Hear what AfAA members have to say about AfA on our AfA Voices blog.
CONNECTION: Another program close to our heart is The Yard Sign Project. The 2024 Yard Sign Project was “Signs of Life” which emphasizes the importance of our environment by focusing on pollinators. Pollinators are vital to maintaining a healthy ecosystem, yet they face alarming population decline due to pesticide use, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Through this project, our artists—spanning a wide range of ages and skill levels—created signs to raise awareness about this critical issue. These signs were not only displayed in people’s yards but also featured at the Cooler Concord Festival, our annual scavenger hunt, and now, many of the pollinator paintings are in the Fowler Library Pollinator Garden. This project was a unique opportunity to connect the community around a shared cause and bring attention to an environmental issue that affects us all.
COMMUNITY: Our commitment to inclusion and community connection didn’t stop there. This year, we marched with the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission in Concord’s Patriot’s Day Parade. We made a banner and marched in the Concord Pride Rally, celebrating diversity and unity in our community. We brought art activities to West Concord’s two annual Village Festivals, Additionally, we hosted four exhibits that showcased the incredible talent within our community. Two were solo exhibits by local artists Mike Sprague and Chris Price, both have collaborated with us on numerous projects. Another exhibit featured our 2023 Signs of Wellbeing Yard Signs, emphasizing the importance of wellbeing and the profound impact that art can have on mental health. We also had an exhibit dedicated to the beautiful work produced by our Art for All Abilities program members.
What’s happening in 2025?
As we look ahead to 2025, Art for All will focus on mental health and wellbeing, particularly of our most vulnerable community members: Seniors, those with disabilities, and the Youth.
Why is this important?
Seniors in our community are at an increased risk of loneliness, which can have severe effects on their physical and mental health. Nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, which significantly increases their risk of depression and cognitive and physical decline (CDC). Engagement with the arts improves mental health and, when engaged on an ongoing basis, greatly improves brain and physical health. Engaging in the arts in a group setting also aids in forming connections and combating loneliness.
The mental health crisis among young people continues to escalate. Nearly 1 in 3 adolescents in the U.S. received some form of mental health treatment in 2023, and over 42% of high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue (USAFacts) (HealthDay).
What will AfA do?
We are stepping up to meet these challenges by maintaining the AfA studio as a creative community gathering space, and by developing workshops specifically for groups that are at risk of isolation, disconnection and loneliness.
Our workshops for senior citizens at the Council on Aging will provide not only creative outlets but also meaningful social connections that combat loneliness.
We are also committed to supporting the caregivers of our Art for All Abilities members by offering dedicated workshops that give them the emotional outlet and community they need.
Finally, we will develop art and wellbeing workshops for the community and youth to emphasize the important role art can play in the healing process.
Get started!
Your support is crucial. By donating to Art for All, you are fostering creativity and directly impacting the mental health and wellbeing of those who need it most in our community. Together, we can bridge gaps, build connections, and create a more inclusive, creative community.
Please join us in making a difference. Your donation today will help us continue bridging gaps and building community into 2025 and beyond.
