Community building through creative nonviolence, art exhibits, and art therapy

Presentations: 17 - Su 216This research study focused on the experience of 46 participants who attended an art therapy exhibit created by artists living with mental illness. By providing tools to guide the participants through the exhibit by focusing on the relational, participants experienced increased empathy, perception of relationship, and attitude change in regards to the artists living with mental illness. The findings of the study suggest that art therapists have a particular role to play in facilitating the desired result is social change.The 1st International Conference on Art in Response to Violence, Chicago, IL,, 30 September-1 October 2010