Mental Health Week is May 4 to May 10, 2020

This year, more than ever, OAG is committed to support the community through programs and initiatives that engage and inspire.  

HOW WE DO IT — Knowing that the power of art is key to maintaining health and wellness, OAG fosters an ongoing safe space for self-expression and connection through art. These community-building initiatives in the form of free or subsidized art and wellness workshops offered in the OAG Studio, offsite locations for local service organizations, and even by phone to underserved communities, allow us to share the benefits of art, that:

• Help relieve stress
• Increase brain power
• Boost overall quality of life

The community members and participants we serve in our programs learn and grow as artists by:

• Gaining new skills, looking at and discussing work together, and participating in community exhibitions.
• Creating artwork collaboratively in a nurturing, non-clinical environment, which contributes to a healthy sense of self.
• Being empowered to identify as artists.

JOIN US—We may not be able to connect in person for a while but we are excited to serve our community and committed to keeping people feeling connected by various means:

• Take part in a virtual Creative Drop-In Session on Wednesday May 6th from 2pm to 3 pm. For more information on this program, click here. 
   
• The Seniors’ Centre Without Wallsprogram, through the Good Companions Center, allows seniors to participate in Art Talk, an hour-long conference call designed to discuss art and current exhibits with us over the telephone! Our next Art Talk is on May 5 at 12:30 pm.  Visit the Good Companions Center  for details on how to call in. Additional info here and here. 

DONATE— click here to support these initiatives and help us continue to work with and for our community.

OUR INVALUABLE COMMUNITY PARTNERS
With the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, we developed our Creative Space program, which we plan to expand this year. Other partners for ongoing or upcoming programs include The Ottawa Hospital, Carefor, the Dementia Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County, Jewish Family Services, Kind Space, and the Ottawa Sanctuary City Network. A few of our neighborhood off-site partners include St. Joe’s Women’s Center, The Ottawa Mission, and the OASIS Harm Reduction Program at the Sandy Hill Community Health Center.

We look forward to connecting in whatever ways possible to make sure that art is available, safe and accessible to everyone.