We are thrilled to announce that Governor Bill Lee signed SB 101 on April 20, 2021, officially enacting the Professional Art Therapist License in Tennessee! The law will take effect July 1, 2021. AATA congrats the Tennessee Art Therapy Association (TATA) and Tennessee’s art therapists! This win will go a long way in making art therapy services more accessible in Tennessee and is a critical step in AATA’s goal to secure licensure in each state. 

The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) stands in support of transgender youth. We are outraged by the onslaught of recent state legislation proposed across the country prohibiting gender-affirming care for transgender youth and banning transgender youth from participating on sports teams according to their gender identity. Simply put, these bills are dangerous because they systematically endanger the health and well-being of transgender youth. Moreover, they have created widespread fear, anxiety, and stigmatization in the community and will likely exacerbate the disproportionate mental health challenges transgender youth experience.

The AATA is pleased to announce a new virtual learning offering that includes artmaking and will provide attendees with two credits of continuing education. We invite you to join us on May 22 at 2 p.m. eastern time for a virtual session, Exploring Art Therapy Assumptions through the Lens of Neuroscience, presented by Christianne Strang, PhD, ATR-BC, CEDCAT-S. The lens of neuroscience will be used to explore assumptions that underlie the practice of art therapy and increase understanding of connections between artmaking, emotional processing, and emotional expression.

I find that now, more than before, people are welcoming the idea of mental wellness. Whether people are being forced to connect within home or through extensive hours on screen, the pandemic has motivated many to self-reflect on values, goals, and loved ones. People have tapped into innovative and creative ideas that sparked new business ventures and ways to acquire one’s goals. 

The AATA Undergraduate Subcommittee invites art therapy educators to participate in a discussion forum on Wednesday, June 9, from 1-2 p.m. EST. Heather Denning and Jonathan Haag will co-facilitate our discussion on thoughts and considerations about the UG Internship course. We hope to see you there! 

You’re invited! Join us for a free virtual event, Getting Involved! Understanding the Nominations Process and How You Can Participate, on Wednesday, April 28, at 8 p.m. ET. This session is open to anyone who may be interested in learning more about AATA’s election process, and we encourage you to join if you yourself might be considering volunteer service on the AATA’s board or nominating committee. Registration is free and you do not need to be an AATA member to attend. Register Now!

It's application season! Help AATA celebrate individual members making an impact in our profession and community by applying or nominating a colleague. Find details about all opportunities in this article and on MyAATA, and learn more about specific applications in separate articles in the Member Corner. Applications are open in the following categories (listed in order of deadline): Multicultural (May 1), Scholarships (May 1), Nominations (May 6), Honors (June 15), Research (June 15) and Governmental Affairs (June 15).

Student and professional members of the AATA are encouraged to apply for the Pearlie Roberson Annual Scholarship Award. This award honors Pearlie Roberson, an African American artist and art therapy client, and supports efforts to “explore, express, connect” to enhance the multicultural aspects of the therapeutic experience. The application deadline is coming up on May 1, 2021! Current and upcoming applications can be found at 2021 Award Schedule on MyAATA.

The call for applications for AATA scholarships closes on May 1, 2021, so you still have time! The benefits of receiving a scholarship extend beyond dollars and cents. When you receive a national scholarship from the AATA, you experience increased networking opportunities from peers and colleagues. Read more to learn about how some of the recipients of 2020 scholarships benefitted from their award and imagine yourself as an awardee in 2021. Find more information and applications on MyAATA!

The AATA is currently accepting nominations for AATA members to serve two-year terms (2021-2023) in the following positions: president-elect, secretary, board of directors and nominating sub-committee. Please submit candidate applications and nomination forms by May 6, 2021. All forms, position descriptions, and more information can be found on MyAATA. 

"The indomitable spirit and strength of children are an inspiration to behold. And that’s especially and poignantly true of children fighting cancer. These youngsters, many of them facing battles that would exhaust most adults, somehow tap into their inner reserves and celebrate the joy around them, often while experiencing excruciating pain... Children’s Cancer Fund knows how important art therapy is to the healing of young cancer patients, and the Healing Works exhibit at NorthPark Center gives you the perfect opportunity to share in the moving stories told by children through these personal and illuminating creations."

"Though a lot has changed since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, its effect on student mental health may be alleviating, but persists right along with the need for mask wearing, social distancing and other acts of vigilance. To that end, three master’s students in different disciplines of creative arts therapy discussed with DrexelNow their own struggles with mental health during the pandemic, and how their fellow Dragons can remain vigilant in attending to their physical and emotional needs. They are each members of the student group Creative Arts Therapists (CATs) of Color, and previously led coping and self-care workshops through the Counseling Center."

"One of the themes the project led by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar and funded by Qatar Foundation's (QF) Qatar National Research Fund will focus on is national identity... Michelle Dixon, Art Therapist at Sidra Medicine, also a member of QF, will serve as a co-principal investigator of the project and will facilitate the online art therapy sessions."

"The Newport News Mayor’s Youth Commission (MYC) and the Newport News Police Department’s (NNPD) Young Adult Police Commission (YAPC) are teaming up to host a virtual panel discussion titled Youth Mental Health – Emerging from the Pandemic to New Societal Norms. The discussion will take place on the city’s Facebook page on Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m."

"The Beehive State is filled with buzzing artists, and the Utah Division of Arts and Museums are reminding all to take hold of the resources available to make it a possible living. On April 16, the Utah Division of Arts and Museums says, 'Pursuing a degree in the arts can be an expensive endeavor. Check out these financial aid resources for students in the arts.'... One scholarship available for minorities studying art therapy is the Cay Drachnik Minoirities Fund."