Arts + Wellness
An arts-based wellness program that provides high-quality and experiential training in multiple creative disciplines and mental health resources to combat the alarming increase in depression, anxiety, conflict, and suicidal ideation reported among Los Angeles youth while fostering safe spaces for them to explore their creativity
The Program
Arts + Wellness is a long-term multi-disciplinary arts program that supports young people in developing their wellness and mindfulness through empathy building, trauma healing, restorative justice, creative expression, real-world and project-based learning, and civic leadership. The young artists help select the art disciplines and issues on which to focus through public displays of art and hands-on experiences. Each series of this program is led by one of ABG’s Artists in Residence—talented professional artists with a commitment towards creating a culture of care—and have a specific focus such as:
Art for Social Change
Murals & Street Art
Culinary Arts
Urban Farming
Music, Dance, & Performing Arts
Creative Writing & Spoken Word
Photojournalism & Videography
Peer Mediation
Yoga & Contemplative Practices
The Impact
This program is an essential response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of our young people—pre-pandemic—were experiencing significant levels of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences); now, as a result of the pandemic, all young people are carrying traumas that must be healed before they can excel and thrive as students, changemakers, global citizens of our future world. Beyond building wellness and mental resilience, the Arts + Wellness program opens up dialogue between the youth and ABG’s trauma-informed Artists in Residence around prominent issues including: systemic racism, trauma of poverty, internal and external violence, bullying, and other systemic inequities. This program instills the youth with agency—a sense that they can do something to change their communities—and allows them to discover ways they can channel these feelings and experiences, along with fears and questions, into positive change for their immediate community and beyond.
The Community
The following are some of the partner organizations at which ABG’s Artists in Residence lead this program:
Arts in Action Middle School
Aveson Global Leadership Academy *
Aveson School of Leaders *
Burbank Boys & Girls Club
Canoga Park Senior High School *
Casa Esperanza
Da Vinci Communications *
Da Vinci Connect
Da Vinci Design *
Fairfax High School *
Franklin High School
Graham Elementary School
Grant Elementary School *
Highland Park High School
Hollywood High School
Hollywood PAL *
Los Angeles Senior High School *
Le Conte Middle School *
Maywood Academy High School
Palms Middle School *
The Los Angeles Mission *
Venice Boys & Girls Club
* indicates the Arts + Wellness program is currently in residence at this site.
“Arts Bridging the Gap has provided an empowering safe space for youth to utilize art for creative self-expression, developing empathy, and promoting mental resilience.”
Psychiatric Social Worker, Los Angeles Unified School District
Our Partners
We couldn’t do this without the support from our partners.
