Artist Mental Health & Wellbeing Gatherings

The Cause

Elephant Artist Relief Society (EAR) is a registered charity that provides practical resources to artists of all disciplines (visual art, music, film, dance, etc.) in the Calgary region to help sustain their well-being and livelihood and, in turn, contribute to a vibrant cultural sector. Celebrating 17 years, EAR offers emergency financial relief; referrals, resources; access to group health insurance; bi-monthly community meetups; and hosts workshops on professional development, entrepreneurial activities, and wellness specific to artists’ needs. The PFW creates programming to support healthy brain development and promote mental health literacy using art. The PFW innovates the mental health conversation with evidence-backed processes developed through their research, blended with art, and woven into a narrative for fun and playful learning. This approach provides a deeper understanding of how people receive and process the world via cognition and emotion to generate a sense of well-being. Since 2022, EAR and PFW have worked together to develop free public programming and resources.
The Artist Mental Health & Wellbeing Gatherings aim to provide a free, safe, supportive, and creative space for artists of all disciplines (visual art, music, dance, writers etc.) in Southern Alberta. This project will bring together the basis of EAR's "Studio E" sessions with the "Artists' Wellness Meetups" hosted by the PFW. By merging these formats into quarterly in-person gatherings, artists will have the opportunity to connect with their peers, share challenges, and participate in workshops specifically designed for their mental and creative well-being. The gatherings will allow the artist community to build relationships, gain emotional support, and share experiences that foster a healthier work-life balance. Alongside these physical meetups, EAR and PFW will continue to provide twelve ongoing virtual sessions to maintain connection and continuity.
The goal is to support the artist community guide, provide resources, connection and the opportunity to collaborate and increase their mental health and wellbeing. The gatherings will request feedback to adapt to artists stated needs, and ensure that the workshops adapt to their challenges. Workshops will offer practical tools and resources, addressing issues like burnout, self-doubt, and isolation that many creatives face.

Who Will it Benefit?

This project will benefit the artist community of Southern Alberta, particularly those located in Calgary, and surrounding areas. With over 18,000 artists in Alberta, EAR and PWF aim to support Southern Alberta creatives. Artists often face unique challenges—financial insecurity, creative blocks, isolation, and mental health struggles—that can significantly impact their well-being. By creating both in-person and virtual spaces for artists to gather, share experiences, and support one another, this project aims to address these issues head-on.
Specifically, it will benefit:
- Emerging and established artists: Those who may struggle with navigating the complexities of sustaining a creative practice.
- Marginalized groups: Artists from underrepresented backgrounds who often face systemic barriers within the art world.
- Artists experiencing mental health struggles: Many artists struggle in silence, and this initiative provides a safe space for discussion and support.
Through workshops, community discussions, and mental health support activities, we aim to create a ripple effect that uplifts not only the participants but also their wider communities by empowering artists to continue creating and contributing to the cultural fabric of the region.
Over the past three years, EAR has offered free public programming on professional development, health and wellness, and creative practice. Our programs have been well subscribed with attendance of over 1800 individual artists in 2023 and we have increased our audience 95% year over year. Our impact also includes an 88% increase in artists supported through our Emergency Relief and Health Subsidy programs. In EAR’s Health Insurance Subsidy Pilot program, we found the support we provided included a 100% increase in creative production by the artists who were able to access health benefits through this program. This impact has a direct effect on the communities in which the artists live and work. The supported artists' creative production benefits the public through engagement, sharing, and access to cultural experiences for everyone in their communities.