By Ana Higuera  
(Ana is a volunteer journalist with the FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE)
 
None of us have ever before experienced a pandemic. Borders closed, country wide lockdowns, overburdened health systems, lost jobs, inability to see loved ones, the impending fear of getting or spreading the virus, and the list goes on. This global emergency has literally turned our world upside down and with it brought massive fear, uncertainty, and instability. How to cope with something of this magnitude? How to keep the mind from spiraling under the crushing stress and anxiety? Especially when in lockdown, confined and isolated. Truth is, we have all dealt with it differently. Some took to excessive exercising to deal, reading, endless baking or plant caring but for many of us, art and keeping creative has been a sure outlet from the chaos. Making art, (no experience necessary) has proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving mental health.

ArtHeart, a non-profit community arts organization in Regent Park knows this and has based their work with the community on the healing power of art for the last 30 years. During the first lockdown, all of ArtHeart’s programs and activities were cancelled and as we’ve all had to do, they adapted. Inspired by a fellow Community arts organization in Halifax, they began producing free take home art kits for their participants and the Community at large, working to keep their community engaged and creative to cope with the uncertainty and fear of the times through an arts activity.

They began running their novel, free Art Kit program just over 40 weeks ago. Participants come by weekly to the Daniels Spectrum Building, where ArtHeart is located, and safely pick up a creative Art Kit. ArtHeart Staff, including Cynthia Dolor-Butcher and Tim Svirklys, lovingly create and put together the activities in each weekly kit, working to relieve even if its a little of their participant’s stress and worries, as well as help parents deal with the added weight of unprecedented school closures during the pandemic. Although schools in Ontario re opened on January 11th, many are not full time and there are send home policies in place in case of virus breakouts, making the possibility of kids being sent home likely. Furthermore, ArHeart’s program supports parents who have opted for virtual learning for their kids, thus needing off-screen activities.

Many parents, like Korbin’s mother, Shirley, who have been participating in the Art Kit program, expressed how helpful the program and its activities have been for her family since the lockdowns and isolation began, the kits have become “a weekly ritual” for them and something to look forward to in dealing with not being able to see other family and friends during this time.

In addition to weekly Art Kit pick-ups, ArtHeart sends out weekly virtual kits for their at risk and senior participants who cannot, for obvious reasons, leave their homes to go pick up a kit.

In dealing with a global pandemic, every little bit helps, and although making art may not solve all our current problems, it certainly helps us keep our mental health in check in order to face those problems effectively.

ArtHearts free Art Kit program is for children, adults and seniors alike, all materials and instructions are provided by the arts organization. To participate, please reach out to them by email: info@artheart.ca