AICAD & FAH Partnership
AICAD member schools take the lead in promoting wellbeing through creative engagement
The Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design (AICAD) and The Foundation for Art & Healing (FAH)’s partnership is a collaborative effort that activates member AICAD schools to use their creative resources to build connection and promote wellbeing on their own campuses and within their communities. AICAD member schools are uniquely positioned to bring their passion for creative expression into programs that include the use of arts and “making” in a nonthreatening and supportive environment.
Member schools are invited to implement FAH’s Colors & Connection program as an engaging starting point in fostering connection. Schools can also choose to design their own projects.
AICAD Arts & Wellbeing Fund: Fueling the effort
In collaboration with FAH, AICAD will be offering mini-grants to 5–9 of their member institutions to implement new and/or support existing efforts to promote connections between creative practice and wellness.
These grants aim to support the development and documentation of innovative campus activities that harness creativity to counter loneliness and improve overall wellness. Projects that center the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice will be prioritized for funding.
Here are some of the exciting ways these mini-grants could be put to work:
- Allocating implementation funds for the utilization of FAH’s Colors & Connection framework among students, faculty, staff, and local community groups
- Providing financial support for existing wellness programs on campus that emphasize the connection between creative practice and fostering relationships
- Offering documentation funds for existing projects undertaken by students, faculty, alumni, or other community members. These initiatives should utilize creative skills to engage others in wellness-focused activities
This partnership aligns with our shared mission—to enhance the health and wellbeing of college-aged students. Our vision is that AICAD institutions will lead the way for all colleges and universities in fostering connection and belonging.
The Foundation for Art & Healing’s National Campus Program: Colors & Connection
As a part of FAH’s Project UnLonely initiative, Colors & Connection is currently available for implementation on campuses throughout the U.S. It is a free, one-hour workshop designed to stimulate authentic engagement and rich conversations through “connecting through colors” activities. By exploring how color expresses and reflects emotions, participants can enhance their creative intelligence while fostering peer-to-peer communication, crucial for students navigating the complexities of college life. This program, accessible through an online platform for easy distribution, can be implemented by college administrators, faculty, or students—anyone that is eager to address the loneliness epidemic on their campus.
At the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, we’ve seen how essential a sense of connection and belonging is as students navigate their educational and life journeys. The Colors & Connection workshop was a great, joyful experience for our students, offering a fun, creative arts-filled way to share thoughts and feelings, have real conversations, and get to know themselves and each other better.
Student Success Conference
Dr. Jeremy Nobel was the keynote speaker at the 2023 AICAD Student Success Conference, “FOCUS: Engaging, Motivating, and Adapting.” He explored the unique loneliness challenges faced by art college students and shared strategies to cultivate a sense of belonging on campuses. Dr. Nobel also emphasized the need to involve art students in creative expression activities that are non-performative and non-comparative. He highlighted the powerful opportunity that art students have to use their talents in the service of others, allowing them to “connect through caring.”
AICAD is pleased to partner with The Foundation for Art & Healing, bringing greater resources to the efforts our member institutions are already providing to support student engagement and wellbeing. Creativity is our membership’s expertise, and I know they will bring great creativity to these new efforts to support the connection of students, faculty, staff, and their local communities.
Explore More
Project UnLonely
We launched this signature national initiative to raise awareness of loneliness and its negative physical and mental health effects, to destigmatize loneliness, and to make programming available to address loneliness.
Our Programs
Our suite of proven program solutions enable community-based organizations to use creative expression as an innovative and effective public health method for improving their community’s wellbeing.
