Workshops, Education and Methods
WORKSHOPS
A variety of movement and arts-based workshops are offered
by ITC thoughout the year. Topics are varied and often include an
embodiment/creative movement component. All experience and skill
levels are welcome. Learn more about our workshops and classes under PROGRAMS
EDUCATION
As part of our mission, we seek to raise awareness of the
important contribution body-centered and expressive arts practices offer in
personal and community health. Public talks are offered throughout the year.
Learn more about what we currently offer under EDUCATION. We also
provide tailored education services regarding body and/or arts-based practices
to community groups and social service agencies. Please contact us to discuss
your needs.
OUR METHODS
Arts-based Methods
Our focus is broad, as we believe that both individual and
community health benefit from engagement in the arts. As such, we embrace and
foster the use of arts-based methods in a wide variety of contexts -- from
individual counselling to community development.
We use a variety of arts-based methods to encourage
exploration and discovery of an individual’s or a community’s creative self. No
art or movement experience is necessary; an open mind is all that is required
for the creative process to unfold. The way the arts are applied in our
practices are briefly outlined below.
Workshops
Our center directly facilitates and collaborates
with community members to provide a rich variety of arts-based workshops. These
workshops emphasize the healing power of the creative process. These workshops
are designed according to the needs of each group; our facilitators collaborate
with organizations and participants to guide and foster the group process using
the arts as a means to enhance expression and communication. They are always
inclusive, respectful and collaborative.
Expressive Arts in Counselling
The expressive therapies add a unique dimension to
counselling. They typically involve dance/movement, drama, music and
visual art in representing feelings and experiences. In particular, the
expressive arts therapy framework integrates the ways the body, the mind and
our emotional energy work together (Malchiodi, 2005). In this way, the
expressive therapies offer an approach to wellness that is holistic and
empowerment-focused.
Arts-Based Community Development
In essence, arts-based community development uses arts-based
methods to empower individuals and groups of people to effect change in their
communities. This “change” can involve such diverse group or community
level changes as increased awareness and understanding, attitude change,
increased civic participation and/or policy change. Therefore, the orientation
of any one arts-based initiative will vary depending on the particular change
desired by the community (Cleveland, 2002).
The art forms that are employed in arts-based community
development encompass an enormous breadth of art-making practices, including
the visual arts (e.g. painting, sculpture, video, film, photography), the
performing arts (e.g. choirs, dance, music, theatre) and the literary arts
(e.g. "poetry slams"). While clearly art-making is integral to
arts-based community development projects, the precise role that the arts plays
can vary greatly. The art "can be a tool to bring people
together, can be the end focus of a project, can be part of a celebration or
can the legacy of a project" (Creative Communities.ca).
Our organization seeks to develop community
partnerships in implementing arts-based community development
initiatives. Our team consists of artists and social workers,
and is therefore particularly well suited to engage in arts-based
community work.
Cleveland, W. (2002). Mapping the Field: Arts-based
Community Development.http://www.communityarts.net/readingroom/archivefiles/2002/05/mapping_the_fie.php
Malchiodi, C.A. (2005). Expressive Therapies. New York,
NY: Guilford Press.
Tools
Movement/Dance
Somatic/Embodiment Practices, such as mindfulness
Voice/Sound
Writing
Image Making
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