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Artists Association asks CRC to sustain wellness-through-arts classes that served about 150 residents last year
Summary
The Artists Association told the Contract Review Committee funding supports fee-reduced art classes aimed at mental-health and social connection; attendance rose from about 50 participants in 2023 to roughly 150 in 2024, the presenters said.
The Artists Association described a multi-year wellness-through-the-arts program that provides subsidized art classes and peer connection opportunities and asked the Contract Review Committee for continued support to expand capacity.
Executive Director Tracy Sears and education staff detailed program growth: roughly 50 participants in 2023, about 95 in 2024 and roughly 150 in the current cycle. Staff said demand still exceeds capacity and that they often must limit enrollment despite scholarship funds.
Nut graf: Presenters said the program reduces social isolation, supports seniors, parents and caregivers, and builds community ties through multigenerational classes. They reported that scholarships are allocated via referrals from about 20 community organizations and by direct website applications, and they described a managed process that reserves seats across semesters.
Committee members asked about diversifying funding and whether scholarships are targeted; presenters said they actively pursue grants for seniors and other pools, maintain a waitlist and aim to distribute scholarships across cohorts so that no single participant consumes multiple funded seats.
Ending: The Artists Association said it will continue pursuing grants and partnerships to sustain and expand the program and provided testimonials to illustrate participant benefits.
