ACES and the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) in partnership with VSA/Young Audiences of Connecticut have collaborated on an exciting new project called Studio Jams. In its second successful year of implementation, the Studio Jams project encourages area young adults ages 18‐30 with a history of mental health diagnoses or a failure to achieve milestones to participate in a range of arts activities. These activities will serve as a vehicle for self-expression and social networking with their peers and professional artists instructors/mentors.
A series of workshops and events were planned as a result of a successful kick-off held in September, 2010. Each event introduces and engages young adults in a variety of creative and performing arts – including music, photography, videography, songwriting, graphic arts, visual arts, sculpture, dance and the performing arts. Feedback from each participant is used to expand the program to include interactive opportunities for young adults to explore careers in the arts as well as to discover ways of producing art themselves.
