Feeding Creativity for Underserved Youth and Adults in Ludington
The Ludington Area Center for the Arts (LACA) has just announced the distribution of its new ‘crEATivity Art Kits’ starting Friday, April 2. “The ‘crEATivity Art Kits’ are designed to get FREE art supplies and art education lessons into the hands of underserved children and adults in and around Mason County as LACA attempts to feed creativity throughout our community,” LACA Executive Director Andrew Skinner said.
LACA is a volunteer organization whose mission is to engage, inspire and strengthen our community through arts advocacy. The art center goal is to foster a community where arts and culture bring us together, feed the creative spirit, and fuel community growth.
“What better way to meet these goals than to distribute free art supplies and instruction to our community members,” Skinner added.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our community in many ways. While the current economic crisis and the ever-increasing number of undernourished children and adults grab most of the headlines; mental health issues are also plaguing our fellow community members. The arts play a valuable role in mental health and can help to boost confidence while also making people feel more engaged and resilient. In addition to these benefits, art engagement also alleviates anxiety, depression and stress.
Through a partnership with the Lakeshore Food Club and the Mason County District Library (both the Ludington and Scottville branches), LACA will distribute 200 ‘crEATivity Art Kits’ each month to community members who would benefit from expressing themselves through art. Art kits will be made available on a first come first serve basis beginning the first Friday of each month. LACA will also be distributing a limited number of art kits each month. The beneficial effects of creating aren't dependent on a person's skill or talents. "It's the process, not the product," says Megan Carleton, an art therapist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
Each ‘crEATivity Art Kit’ includes: simple step-by-step instructions, all of the materials needed to complete the project, information about the artist or art movement that inspired the project and a healthy snack.
The first ‘crEATivity Art Kit’ will feature a Watercolor Glue Flowers project inspired by the Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami. In addition to step-by-step instructions the kit also includes a watercolor paint set and brush, a 4 oz. bottle of white glue, four pieces of watercolor paper, an individual serving of applesauce and a spoon. LACA plans to continue creating and distributing the ‘crEATivity Art Kits’ for at least the next 12 months and is currently looking to secure funding for the project. To date LACA has received donations from the Women Who Care of Mason County and an in-kind donation of applesauce cups from Indian Summer.
“In addition to the monetary and in-kind donations we have secured for this project we have also teamed up with the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art and Design to use student created art projects and instructions for the kits,” Skinner said. Community members who would like to help fund this project are asked to contact LACA executive Director Andrew Skinner at 231-845-2787 or e-mail him at director@ludingtonartscenter.org.
