Willow Arts expands the healing
Creative outlet for people with mental health and addiction issues
A Niagara arts group helping people with mental health and addiction issues will expand its programming starting in September.
Operating mainly out of Rodman Hall in St. Catharines, the Willow Arts Community has partnered with Toronto-based arts and mental health organization Workman Arts for weekly classes taught by local professional artists.
Willow Arts will split $750,000 in funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation over three years with similar programs in Thunder Bay and North Bay.
Founder and director Shauna MacLeod says art creates powerful bonds with people at a time they may need it most.
“There’s real friendships developing when they come out,” she says. “Creating art is kind of vulnerable, and when you do it in a group — with like-minded people who have gone through similar experiences — the community aspect is as important as the art.”
MacLeod started Willow Arts using her own money, then relied on fundraising to help offer more programs. The funding now allows the group to bring in professional artists, provide training, and use better art supplies.
To join, members must be 18 or over and have experienced addiction or mental health issues. Membership is free, as are all art classes.
Classes for the 2018 season begin Sept. 5 with various classes at Rodman Hall, Niagara Artists Centre and Niagara Artists Centre Studio. Programs include cartooning with instructor Andrea Eby and tabletop puppet creation with instructor Alexa Fraser.
This year, Willow Arts has also partnered with Niagara Region Mental Health, CMHA Niagara, Start Me Up Niagara, Oak Centre Clubhouse and Mahtay Café.
MacLeod lost her musician brother to suicide in 2010, and leaned on the arts and music during her own recovery period just prior to starting Willow Arts. She was nominated for the Making the Difference award at this year’s St. Catharines Arts Awards. She took home the Jury’s Pick Award, chosen from the night’s nominees in recognition of her exceptional commitment to local arts.
MacLeod sees the benefits “every day” of art helping the vulnerable. This week, the group released its own CD created by its Songs From the Willow members.
“We have watched people transform, right before our eyes through music and community,” she says.
To register for classes phone 905-328-9277 or email thewillowcommunity
@gmail.com.
Available classes can be seen at www.thewillowcommunity.com.