Blog by the participants of NGCI’s Teen Art Drop-Ins, in partnership with the APF Youth Ambassadors Programme.

Over the past few months, the National Gallery has developed a partnership with the Youth Ambassadors’ Programme (YAP) in order to recognise the role of art in supporting mental health. One way that the Gallery has encouraged the well-being of local teens in their collaboration with YAP is through drop-in events, in which members of the programme as well as students from around the island are invited to express themselves using the creative tools and mediums provided at the Gallery.  Here’s what they had to say about how this campaign has impacted them:

“Art helps me to unleash my frustrations and thereby let go of them and see my life with greater clarity. This allows me to make decisions that are true to myself.” ~ Natalie S.

“Art is how I express, relax, reflect, and escape. And I have really enjoyed the opportunities at the National Gallery wellness programmes where I have been able to practice art surrounded in a creative, inspiring, supportive atmosphere.” ~ Isabela W.

“Creating art allows for an individual to practice mindfulness. During the sessions at the National Art Gallery, students were able to attain a sense of peace and talk about issues concerning them in their community.” ~ Cristin J.

The practice of art for teens in particular, helps foster connection, offers a rewarding experience, and develops creativity.

Connection

When facing isolation, whether it is from our own identity or from those we care about, art helps us to reconnect. According to Harvard Medical School, “creative activities can relieve stress, aid communication, and help arrest cognitive decline.” As such, art is encouraged as a form of therapy for PTSD as well as for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, by augmenting a sense of calmness and strengthening the brain’s ties to memories.

Rewarding

Art also allows us to express what we cannot using words. The sense of accomplishment derived from completing artwork releases dopamine in the brain and subsequently, improves our mental well-being. This is because dopamine is known as the ‘reward chemical’ and makes “people feel good, increases drive, and improves concentration,” publishes Scripps Affiliated Medical Groups (SAMG). Through creative self-expression, we boost self-esteem and become more resilient to the negative effects of anxiety, depression, and stress.

Creativity

By activating a state of ingenuity and imagination, artists of all ages develop their problem-solving skills and discover new, daring perspectives or ideas. “This type of flexible thinking stimulates your brain and prepares it for complicated functions in the same ways that learning a new language does,” continues SAMG.

On behalf of the Youth Ambassadors Programme, the authors want to thank the National Gallery and its sponsors for recognizing the role of art in mental health and for giving the youth of Cayman a medium for true self-expression and a safe, creative space to practice art. These drop-ins have had profound impacts on our lives and we hope to continue and expand this partnership in the future!

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