Austin State Hospital utilizes Art Therapy practices with their patients to bring about mental wellness through creativity. To highlight this therapy program, they have created the Art Rack. Art Rack is a traveling rack of art made by patients in the Art Therapy program that is taken out into the Austin community to help end the stigma often associated with mental health issues and to spread awareness about how important it is to utilize art in their therapeutic practices.
Art Rack came to campus this summer, sponsored by Arts and Digital Media and the Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Center. Rolling back and forth in Building 4000 of Highland Campus, it has been a pleasure to see faculty, staff and students on campus engaging with the art.
Art Rack will return to campus this fall, with plans to host a reception and workshop focusing on art for mental wellness. We are so grateful to Austin State Hospital for sharing Art Rack with ACC and collaborating with us to highlight the importance of art as a tool for wellness.
Photo credits: Nicole DiMucci