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Empowering Persons with Mental Illness Through Art |
What is "Awakenings"?
Awakenings is an award-winning coalition of artists, writers, actors and musicians who stand apart from the ordinary in that they live with psychiatric illnesses. The group's mission is to assist persons with mental health issues in developing their craft and finding an outlet for their creative abilities through art in all forms. The Awakenings Project also works in another direction: to seek to raise public acceptance and awareness of the creative talents of people living with psychiatric disorders who work in the fields of fine art, music, literature and drama.
As writers and artists in recovery, for over a decade, we at Awakenings have basked in this activity, and feel sure the public will continue to better surmise the creative capacity and endowment of persons living with mental health issues. The Awakenings Project has succeeded.
Awakenings has been a grass-roots initiative. It shows that mental health consumers can become producers of extraordinary art exhibits, can publish an internationally acclaimed literary arts journal, can support music and theatrical events. Our work has not gone unnoticed. In 2006 we were winners of the "Outstanding Contribution to Recovery by a Non-Profit Organization" award by the Irwin Foundation at Celebration Recovery.
Empowering through Art
Awakenings is riding the crest of a trend in recent years. The collecting of fine art created by persons living with mental illnesses has become fairly widespread, with several associations curating and showing pieces at national venues. Other literary magazines devoted to people with mental illnesses have appeared on the landscape.
Some researchers conclude that among scores of celebrated artists, writers and musicians there exists some positive relationship between affective disorders and being endowed with creative genius. Though the Awakenings Project does not purport to be a breeding ground for artistic geniuses, there does appear to be important and widespread interest in artistic endeavors among people with psychiatric disorders.
Art, whether it be fine art or art therapy, heals some of the personal wounds brought about by mental ill health. It is a purposeful and optimistic activity. The artists plan exhibits, look forward to upcoming shows, grow and develop their artistic talents. The artists receive positive feedback, field questions about their art, and also make sales or win commissions. Writers, on the other hand, find vindication in seeing their work published in an attractive and reputable journal.
Healing through Art
People familiar with psychiatric illnesses understand the terrible loss of purpose and self-esteem due to these disorders. The arts can heal some of these wounds. Art provides individuals struggling with these disabling illnesses hope, purpose and identity. Artists and viewers alike realize that all these exhibitions, journals, poetry readings, plays, music, etc., have been produced and directed entirely by persons with mental illnesses.
The last thirty years have produced revolutionary changes in the treatment of persons with severe psychiatric disorders, and the last ten have shown that empowerment and recovery can be advanced by using therapeutic alternatives, such as the Awakenings Project, as adjuncts to traditional medicinal and psychotherapeutic treatments.
While the caricature portrayals of people with mental illnesses are heavily biased toward violent behavior (which is actually no more prevalent than in the general public), we believe the understanding and acceptance of people with mental ill health can be advanced through projects like Awakenings.
Our exhibits, writings, etc. make a statement that persons with mental illness are highly capable and talented people wishing to contribute to society, and that art is a healing activity.
The Need We Address in the Community
Epidemiological research suggests that a staggering 10% of the population may have a major mental illness in their lifetimes. Fully 1% of the population meets the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia while another 1 to 2% fit into the bi-polar (manic-depression) category. As many as 25% of women and 12% of men experience major depression during their lives.
A
variety of medical, psychotherapeutic and self-help methods have helped
people overcome disabilities related to these illnesses and recover. Despite this advancement, persons with severe mental illnesses
still experience
stigma and discrimination by a society that views mental ill
health in a different light than physical ill health.
Social researchers agree that gaining or regaining power over our lives is essential to overcoming stigma and achieving our greatest potential. Art is one mechanism to facilitate empowerment and foster recovery. The personal growth and improvement in socialization skills, confidence and self-esteem in the artists is phenomenal.
The support network we have created reaches far beyond the walls of the
studio/gallery; the friendships we have formed have been lasting. In these
10+ years of association with the Awakenings Project, we have received much
positive feedback from parents, siblings and friends of the artists about how
important Awakenings has been in the artists' lives. The core group of volunteers puts
in many
hours and much effort to make each exhibit, every journal, all the music, poetry
readings and any
plays we produce as professional and rewarding as
possible.
For questions or comments regarding this website or website design, please contact theawakeningsproject
For Questions regarding the Awakenings Project, please use the Contact Us form.
If you would like, you may donate directly to the Awakenings Project on-line, through Network For Good, by clicking on the link below:
