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Sun, 08/04/2024 - 23:23
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S&C Mo b ile Art
Th e ra p y St u d io

Dawn E. Campbell
PennWest University
Grant Proposal

CONTENT
Purpose
Justification
Terms
Literature Review
Description of Organization
Why a Mobile Studio?
Why Underserved Communities in Central Virginia?
Why Art Therapy?
The Art Bus
Goals and Objectives
Implementation Plan
Budget
Evaluation
Possible Source of Funding
Limitations
Future Research
My Thoughts

Grant Proposal

PURPOSE
The purpose of the research is to understand the positive impact of art
therapy on underserved communities. This understanding will be used
to develop a proposal for "The Art Bus," a mobile art therapy program
that will bring art therapy services directly to these communities. The
hope is that by increasing access to art therapy services, more funding
will be allocated to art therapy programs.

JUSTIFICATION
Access to mental healthcare is a fundamental human right, yet it remains a significant
challenge for many individuals and communities, particularly those from underserved
populations. The disparities in mental healthcare access are rooted in a multitude of
interconnected factors, creating a complex obstacle to achieving equitable mental health
outcomes. There is also the issue of trust and not having healthcare providers who
understand their experiences.

TERMS
• Humanistic/Person-Centered Therapy
• Stigma
• Socioeconomic barriers
• Open Studio

LITERATURE REVIEW
Humanistic/Person-Centered
• Client-driven approach for self-discovery
• Therapist creates a safe, supportive space
3 Core Tenets:
Congruence/Coherence (therapist and client relationship)
Unconditional Positive Regard (acceptance)
Empathy (understanding the clients world)

LITERATURE REVIEW
Art Therapy in Community-Based Care

Benefits:

• Empowers individuals and groups

• Improved mental health & well

through self-expression & creativity
• Delivered within communities, not
clinical settings
• Promotes mental health, well-being,
and social justice

being
• Reduced stress & anxiety
• Boosted self-esteem & confidence
• Stronger social connections
• Coping mechanisms for trauma &
loss

LITERATURE REVIEW
Health Promotion of Art Therapy
It offers a safe space for self-expression and
can:
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Boost self-esteem and confidence
• Develop coping skills and resilience
• Improve communication, especially for
those who struggle with verbal
expression

Benefits extend to various conditions:
• Dementia: Art therapy can stimulate creativity and selfexpression.
• Psychosis: It provides a safe space to manage difficult emotions.
Art therapy can be used in various settings:
• Schools: Promote social-emotional learning and reduce stress.
• Hospitals: Help patients cope with pain and improve their
overall well-being.
• Mental health clinics: Treat a variety of mental health conditions.
• Private practice: Address issues like stress, anxiety, and
depression.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Art Therapy in Underserved Communities
Underserved communities face high rates of trauma, poverty, and
discrimination.
Making Art Therapy Accessible:
• Offer services in community centers, churches and schools
• Mobile outreach teams brining services directly to people
Collaborative care: teams of providers working together

LITERATURE REVIEW
Open Studio in Art Therapy

Benefits:

The open studio approach originated from the early days of art



Express emotions nonverbally

therapy, when artists, influenced by humanistic approaches to



Develop coping skills and resilience

psychiatry, brought the studio into a psychiatric hospital in the



Process trauma and experiences

1940s (Finkel & Bat Or, 2020).



Explore identity and individuality

Key Elements:


Supported autonomy: Freedom to choose materials and
pace



Creative process over product: Focus on exploration, not
outcome



Witnessing: Therapist and participants acknowledge the
process



Privatization: Artwork belongs to the creator

(teens)

DESCRIPTION OF
ORGANIZATION
S&C: Art Therapy Studio, a community-focused art therapy initiative,
will be a registered non-profit organization owned and operated by
Dawn Campbell, an art therapy graduate and license eligible
professional counselor. Dawn is also a local artist with over two
decades of experience serving the community. S&C: Mobile Art
Therapy Studio will offer free art therapy sessions and collaborates
with other local organizations to provide services within
communities.

WHY A MOBILE STUDIO?
There is a significant need for a mobile art studio to
address the challenges with access to mental health
resources and create new opportunities. These challenges
include limited access, reducing cost, increasing
engagement, enhancing inspiration, and building
community. Overall, a mobile art studio offers a flexible
and cost-effective solution to expand access to art therapy
and will empower individuals and communities.

WHY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA?
There are several compelling reasons to focus this mobile art therapy program on
underserved communities in Central Virginia. Currently, this is the area in which I
have resources and know the mental health needs. I have spent over a year
volunteering and in internship at St. Joseph’s Villa, an organization that services the
central Virginia area. I have seen firsthand the limited resources, transportation
challenges, and a need to address disparities. In December 2023 Governor Glenn
Youngkin announced $500 million in new funding for the continued transformation
of Virginia’s behavioral health system (Office of Governor 2023).

WHY ART THERAPY?
Central Virginia’s underserved communities can reap
significant benefits from art therapy. It provides a
powerful tool for non-verbal communication, emotional
processing, and stress reduction. Art Therapy can also
empower individuals , build self-esteem, and even foster
a stronger sense of community. Having witnessed
firsthand the positive impact on adolescents in our area.
I’m confident art therapy can be a valuable resource for
many.

“THE ART BUS”
Target Beneficiaries: Underserved

Services Offered:

Communities



Free Art Therapy Sessions



Safe Space for Emotional Expression



Building Trust & Resilience



A way to connect to long-term care

• Children and Adolescents
• Adults
• Families

Benefits:

• Veterans



Improved Mental Health & Well-Being

• Individuals with Disabilities



Stronger Families & Communities



Reduced stigma around mental health

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
a. Bring art therapy tools
and materials to the client’s
regional location without

G o a l – To p ro vid e
a c c e ss to Art The ra p y
fo r und e rse rve d
p o p ula tio ns a c ro ss
C e ntra l Virg inia a t no

cost to the
individuals.

Objectives – This
p ro g ra m a ims to
inc re a se a c c e ss to a rt
the ra p y se rvic e s fo r
und e rse rve d
p o p ula tio ns within the
C o mmunity Se rvic e
Bo a rd (C SB) b y
p ro vid ing fre e , mo b ile
a rt the ra p y se ssio ns a t
re g io na l lo c a tio ns.

additional fees to reduce
the cost of travel for the
clients and alleviate the
cost of therapy
b. Create Access to art
therapy for underserved
populations by utilizing a
mobile studio to visit
regional area within
Community Service Board
(CSB) weekly to provide
group Art Therapy.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
• Research used non-CDL short bus or RV that fits within budget
• Bus will undergo internal transformation, where unnecessary
elements will be removed.
• Tables and chairs will be installed with storage also included to
create functional art therapy spaces.
• Art supplies will be secured and organized to fit pre-established
programing.
• Humanistic/Person-centered approach will be used.
• Art therapy sessions will be held both inside the bus and
outdoors at various locations throughout Central Virginia.

BUDGET
TOTAL AMOUNT NEEDED TO START $37,575
A detailed budget has been created based on the estimated needs of the art therapy
u
bus, this budget
proposal represents an initial budget proposal. Depending on the

funding guidelines and requirements for the grant we are applying for, we may have
to adjust the budget accordingly.

EVALUATION
• Weekly group art therapy sessions through affiliated
sites
• To track the impact of the art studio data will be
collected using forms to record weekly attendance.
• Form will include a short intake survey to understand
demographics being served
• Data will identify areas with limited access and
reduce cost
• Final report summarizing the findings will be published
and shared with grantors and donors

POSSIBLE SOURCE OF FUNDING
The funding goal for the S&C: Mobile Art Therapy Studio is to
provide at least a 50% match to any grant offered. Funding
for this match will come from crowd funding initiatives,
donations from private sponsors, and other fundraising
initiatives.

Possible Grant Sources:
• Virginia Commonwealth University – Innovative
Partnership Opportunities Mini Grants: $2,000
• Virginia Commission for the Arts Community Impact
Grants up to $5,000
• The Awesome Foundation: Organization that offers
$1,000

LIMITATIONS
• The program may not address all mental health conditions, especially those
requiring intensive therapy or medication management.
• The mobile format may limit session duration and frequency compared to
traditional settings, potentially impacting therapeutic depth.
• Maintaining confidentiality within the mobile environment might also pose
challenges.
• Logistics like scheduling, travel distances, and weather disruption could affect
accessibility.

FUTURE RESEARCH
• Plans to do more research on culturally tailored art
• Plans to explore technology
• Plans to expand programming by working with local businesses, churches, schools and other
organizations

REFERENCES
Bazooband, A., Courtney-Pratt, H., Tierney, H., Doherty, K., "Engaging in Participatory CommunityBased Arts: Perspectives of People Living with Dementia", Health & Social Care in the
Community, vol. 2023, Article ID 3088449, 14 pages, 2023.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/3088449
Feen-Calligan, H., Moreno, J., & Buzzard, E. (2018). Art Therapy, Community Building, Activism,
and Outcomes. Frontiers in psychology, 9, 1548.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01548
Hlavek, E., Feldwisch, R. (2022). Humanistic approaches to art therapy: Existentialism, personcentered, and gestalt, Foundations of Art Therapy, Academic Press, 2022, Pages 235-257,
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-824308-4.00005-3
Shukla, A., Choudhari, S. G., Gaidhane, A. M., & Quazi Syed, Z. (2022). Role of Art Therapy in the
Promotion of Mental Health: A Critical Review. Cureus, 14(8), e28026.
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.28026

MY THOUGHTS
It’s an exciting feeling when you have had something in your head as an
idea for over 30 years. At the time I didn’t know what it was called, and I
didn’t have the framework for it, but I knew it was something that I needed
to do. Ever since I was a teenager, I saw myself as the Red Cross of mental
health and art was going to be my resource.
I want to take this moment to thank all my professors at PennWest that
decided I was a good fit for this school and who helped lead me through
this journey. I would also like to thank my family(especially my husband and
kids, for being patient), friends and my two angels (C.H. and L.A.) Who
didn’t make it to see this idea come this far, but who pulled me in the right
direction. I would also like to thank my grandmother, who continues to be a
constant reminder that art heals.

Grant Proposal