Youth & Addiction Recovery: The Healing Power of Art and Creative Expression

CURRENTLY ON HOLD DUE TO COVID-19. In partnership with Portage Ontario Residential Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Centre for youth, Elora Centre for the Arts (ECFTA) offers arts-based programming in our classroom  (includes 12 sessions).  Through individual and group-based art projects, students will have the opportunity to learn art techniques and practice the creative freedom of accepting mistakes, problem-solving and sharing using their projects as the catalyst.  The program will culminate in a public mural installation as well as work shown in a youth exhibition, and will include student reflections of their artistic journey.

The first pilot session of this program has been partially funded by a generous grant from the Centre Wellington Community Foundation.

As outlined in the Centre Wellington 2019 Vital Signs report, there is a need for better mental health care and addiction recover, especially with the youth in our community.  In this dynamic partnership, ECFTA and Portage will create projects that compliment a therapeutic community approach and allow for connections, conversations and growth.  The artistic process provides an opportunity to make mistakes, problem solve and come up with a Plan B.  It also helps focus on a task in a world of distraction, and allows students to engage with their community in a meaningful way that helps them feel connected.

Youth recovering from addiction have faced so many traumas in their lives, which have been further compounded by the societal stigma that comes when someone is deemed an addict.  The result is a young person left feeling marginalized and isolated from their community.  This project will welcome Portage residents with open arms, allowing them to develop and explore their creativity in a supported environment.  It will also open up the discussion of mental health on a broader community level among exhibition attendees.

The first pilot session of this program has been partially funded by a generous grant from the Centre Wellington Community Foundation.  To find out how you can help support this, and future programs like this please click here.