Van Wezel Foundation Underwrites Therapeutic Arts Program

April 22, 2022 – Sarasota

In light of National Stress Awareness Month, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Van Wezel Foundation today highlighted its ongoing collaboration with Resilient Retreat, a not-for-profit organization utilizing innovative arts-based approaches to help those impacted by trauma. The Foundation is providing the funding for these community-based program through the generosity of donors who believe in the power of arts to change lives.

“Resilient Retreat believes in utilizing a variety of trauma-informed modalities including expressive art therapy – the integrative use of art, music/sound, dance/movement etc. – as a form of body-based treatment to help participants in their recovery journey,” said Lisa Intagliata, executive director of Resilient Retreat. “Collaborating with an organization like the Van Wezel Foundation was a natural fit for us and gave us access to the highest caliber of arts instructors and curriculum to benefit our participants.”  

“It is because of the generosity of the Foundation’s donors that we can fund mission-critical programs developed by our community partners, like Resilient Retreat,” said Foundation CEO Cheryl Mendelson. “Together, using the power of the arts, we are having a deep and meaningful impact on our community.”

Through this collaboration, Van Wezel teaching artists, who are professionally trained in therapeutic arts practices and arts-based intervention, alongside Resilient Retreat’s highly trained certified trauma professionals, lead first responders and helping professionals in the creative process to address burnout, as well as vicarious trauma.

“Our experience in partnering with Van Wezel teaching artists has been phenomenal,” said Candice McLeod, program and volunteer coordinator at Resilient Retreat. “Their facilitation of our programs has exceeded our expectations. These artists have been an integral part of opening our participants up to the healing process using the power of creativity and the arts. We are fortunate to have these types of programs to complement the other programming modalities that we utilize at Resilient Retreat.”

Utilizing creative exploration and self-expression, these professionals, who have experienced trauma in the workplace, are empowered and given tools that will assist them in coping with and beginning to heal from vicarious trauma. 

“These workshops are amazing,” said a Resilient Retreat participant. “Deep level healing. Very safe and gentle environment to explore ourselves. The approach was so unique, and every participant gets a lot out of it.” 

To learn more about how a gift to the Van Wezel Foundation can make an impact, visit vwfoundation.org/donate.