Nora Eccles Harrison Museum offering wellness-focused art classes

LOGAN, Utah — The Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art announced that it will offer a series of classes called Creating Wellness this summer. 

In a press release, the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art said that the program will consist of free studio art classes. They will be led by Susie Andruck, an art therapist. The museum is located on the campus of Utah State University. 

Creating Wellness classes will take place on Fridays in June, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Per the press release, the classes are meant to encourage participants to slow down. 

A full schedule of NEHMA events can be found on the museum’s website. 

Making art has several wellness benefits

According to the press release, making art stimulates different parts of the brain. Participants can experience a number of benefits from making any form of art. 

Firstly, MQ Mental Health, an organization that advocates mental health, said that making art can reduce stress. 

According to MQ Mental Health’s website, creativity promotes mindfulness, allowing those who practice a chance to process their thoughts. 

Additionally, Mindful said that practicing mindfulness can reduce activity in your amygdala. The amygdala is the part of the brain that switches on during stress. 

Art From the Streets, an Austin, Texas-based charity dedicated to street art, said that making art can also provide an outlet for emotional expression. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, emotional expression provided through art therapy has shown a reduction in suffering for patients struggling with mental conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and depression. Additionally, the NLM said that art therapy has also been used to gather information in the pursuit of patient diagnoses. 

Finally, the press release from NEHMA said that making art can foster productivity and innovation. 

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