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Description of initiative
This is an initiative created 7 years ago. The organisers designed Artful Retreats, based on art therapy principles, to introduce Arts for Health in the popular field of wellness and well-being retreats. The objective of these retreats are to support participants' mental health well-being with the use of different modalities of art. Although Artful Retreats have a niche exclusive audience today, it is an initiative active in communication through which manages to broaden Arts for Health awareness. The format of the retreats are filled with creative interventions and are 4 to 6 consecutive days long. Participants often describe their experience in the retreats insightful, gaining a better understanding of their inner world, appreciating new tools to cope with stress and anxiety while reporting lasting behavioural benefits long after the completion of the retreats. The organisers are actively seeking ways creating events which can reach broader audiences. Their on-line and in person events have participants from all over the world. Artful Retreats is a collaboration between Penelope Orfanoudaki and Romny Vandoros and work in Switzerland, Greece and Australia.
Themes: Culture and...
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Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
Some hundreds of participants have benefited from the sessions under the umbrella of Artful Retreats. Although their focus is not research they have captured the impact and learnings from these retreats across the years. The current retreats are expensive and only people of high income can participate. At times they sponsor events for local communities from the profits gained from the retreats. They seek ways to scale up and approach local communities, hospitals and groups in need in Greece and do more healing work with art.