Join the Art Club: Exploring Social Empowerment in Art Therapy

Social Empowerment Art Therapy (SEAT) aims to address the stigma of mental illness through the artistic empowerment of participants. The model was developed within an inpatient psychiatric setting from observations of a shared governance structure that empowered residents. Incorporating an open art...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inArt therapy Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 28 - 36
Main Authors Morris, Frances Johanna, Willis-Rauch, Mallori
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Taylor & Francis Group 02.01.2014
Routledge
Subjects
Art Therapy
Empowerment
Exhibits
Group Therapy
Institutionalized Persons
Mental Disorders
Negative Attitudes
Outcomes of Treatment
Participative Decision Making
Pilot Projects
Prosocial Behavior
Psychiatric Hospitals
Social Action
United States (Southeast)
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Summary:Social Empowerment Art Therapy (SEAT) aims to address the stigma of mental illness through the artistic empowerment of participants. The model was developed within an inpatient psychiatric setting from observations of a shared governance structure that empowered residents. Incorporating an open art studio approach and social action art therapy, key aspects of SEAT are: (a) voluntary participation, (b) facilitation rather than structured direction, (c) group empowerment through collaborative decision making, and (d) artistic practices that are chosen by members. The primary difference between SEAT and typical group art therapy is that participants determine the features and structure of the group at every stage through forum discussions and majority vote. Participants reframe themselves as artists within the microcosm of their group and their communities using art as an intermediary. This article describes social empowerment in art therapy and the "Art Club" program from which the model was created.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0742-1656
2159-9394
DOI:10.1080/07421656.2014.873694