Installation view of Studio Art Group's exhibition THRESHOLD.
My Article What can art do? The Studio Art Group advocates for art within community psychosocial mental health care was published last month in Journal of Creative Arts Therapy (JoCAT) and I wanted to share to here with you.
The article documents the origins and impact of the Studio Art Group. Here is the Abstract and link to read more.
This paper critically examines the role art plays in group process, exhibition outcomes, and facilitator positionality, situating the Studio Art Group within the spectrum of art therapy practice. The Studio Art Group is a community psychosocial arts program that supports mental health through creative expression and collaborative art-making processes. Formed in response to the closure of a vital community arts space, the group provides a safe, collaborative environment where participants use art-making to explore artist identity, process trauma, and increase social connection. Facilitated by an art therapist–artist, the group engages in reflective practices that foster connection and personal growth. Through grief, shared storytelling, and public art exhibition, the group has evolved into a meaningful psychosocial support system. Participants’ insights into and reflections on the exhibition project have been captured using survey data, group discussion and photography. This paper highlights the critical role of the Studio Art Group in improving participant quality of life and the continued need for access to group arts-based mental health programs within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
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