Building Community through the Arts

The arts offer many opportunities for people to express themselves, enjoy the talents of others, and be part of the community.  CareLink believes that the arts hold great power to assist people in their recovery.  

Since 2000 CareLink’s initiative, Building Community through the Arts, has created a growing appreciation for the arts within CareLink.   We are:

  • Making the arts more accessible to those we serve
  • Stimulating interest in arts and culture among consumers and staff
  • Providing people with opportunities for positive, creative expression
  • Promoting greater inclusion of people with disabilities in the community  

With each event we see even more how the arts can inspire personal growth and promote community involvement.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

CareLink’s activities bring people together around their shared interest in the arts.  With over 30 programs throughout the Delaware Valley, we coordinate an array of activities that are decentralized and make maximum use of local community resources.

CareLink sponsored activities have introduced the hesitant to creative expression, and encouraged the talented to hone their craft.   The elements of CareLink’s initiative include:

CareLink’s Arts Committee
The Arts Committee encourages participation in the arts among people served by CareLink and its employees.  We believe that exposure to the creative process, cultural, performing, and fine arts increase personal growth and the enjoyment of community life. 

A group of service recipients and staff meet monthly to coordinate, plan, promote and implement projects of the agency’s arts initiative.  It is the central point of contact for sharing resources and developing ideas from throughout the agency.   

Working with professionals
The hallmark of our program is offering people in service access to professional art, music and writing experiences.  From 2001-2007, grants and fundraising have supported 33 workshops and residencies involving over 400 people in our services.

Workshops have included music performance, polymer clay, printmaking, paper making, mosaic tile, mask making, wood sculpture and painting. A poetry workshop is conducted weekly at one site with more creative writing activities planned.  All projects maximize participant input from design through execution.    

Promoting people with talent
We showcase the works of people in our programs though public exhibits, performances, and publications.  CareLink has a gallery for one-person exhibits in the Eddystone administrative offices, which also display artwork purchased by the agency in offices and halls.

The ArtsLink newsletter –The Arts Committee publishes a monthly newsletter for anyone interested in the arts.  It is a way for consumers and staff to share their creative work and favorite community resources.  People within CareLink submit pieces to the newsletter which is sent to all our programs and a growing mailing list of readers.  

Career assistance –We help people serious about their craft to pursue a career in the arts through advocacy, connection with artists’ collaboratives and/or services through CareLink’s Career Services employment program.

Discounted tickets to arts/cultural venues - There are many wonderful museums, concerts, exhibits and events in our region.  We don’t want price to be an obstacle to enjoyment.  CareLink accesses discounted or free tickets through membership in Art-Reach, Inc. in Philadelphia and direct contact with venues on behalf of interested individuals.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Visual Arts

CareLink partnered with the Main Line Arts Center in Haverford, PA and artist Carol Stirton-Broad for three special mosaic projects.  Each project gave 12-14 people the chance to work with an accomplished professional and experience the joy of working together to create beautiful art.   

Each group had 10 weeks to agree on a theme, select the images to include and the color tiles to use.  They sketched, cut, pieced, glued, and grouted their way to a work of art far beyond what they imagined possible.

The mosaics were funded by grants from the PA Council on the Arts, a state agency, through its regional funding partnership, PA Partners in the Arts and the Accessibility in the Arts programs.

Music

Musician and music therapist Jerry O’Leary (MusicWorks, Inc.) conducted several unique workshops for CareLink performers.  In four sessions, performers practiced with sound equipment, honed their stage presence and most importantly encouraged each other in their love of music and poetry.  

Twenty-five people then shared their talents with the public at CareLink’s Mental Health Celebrations in May 2006 and 2007.  Each event drew over 140 people to CareLink’s Torrey House residence in Haverford for a wonderful picnic with live entertainment.

PARTNERS AND FRIENDS

CareLink is very grateful to the special partners and friends who make our arts programs possible.   Among them are:  

ArtReach, Inc (www.art-reach.org )
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance (www.philaculture.org)
Main Line Art Center (www.mainlineart.org)
MusicWorks, Inc. (www.musicworkswonders.com)
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (www.pacouncilonthearts.org)
Jane Platz, Artist
Cindy Savett, Poet
VSA of Delaware (www.vsadelaware.org)
PA State Senator Connie Williams (D - 17th)  

Won’t you join us in this exciting effort?
CareLink’s arts program is entirely dependent on fundraising, grants, donations and volunteers.   You can support our efforts in a variety of ways:  

  • Join The ArtsLink newsletter mailing list.
  • Share a special talent or interest of yours with us as a volunteer.
  • Donate gift certificates for framing or arts supplies needed by people in services.
  • Sponsor one of our special art projects or events, or make a donation to Building Community through the Arts

To get involved, please contact:

Gwen Hersh, Development Specialist
Phone: 610-874-1119 ext: 605
Email: ghersh@carelinkservices.org

 

 

 

 
Home | Employee Access | Contact Us | Donate Now | Feedback