Artistic Liberation: Reimagining Wellness for Women Artists of Color through Participatory Evaluation

Abstract Information: Women artists of color make significant contributions to the arts and education sectors, enriching communities and inspiring future generations. However, the intersectionality of race, gender, and artistic practice exposes these individuals to unique stressors that can impact their mental health and overall well-being. For this reason, the authors are co-creating a three-day retreat with and for Women Artists of Color to focus on navigating white spaces, foster sisterhood, wellbeing, and belonging. To more accurately meet the needs of women artists of color, we used a qualitative participatory program development approach in which potential retreat participants were asked to share their feedback. A design task force and three focus groups involving N = 15 women artists of color were conducted to understand how the three-day retreat can provide rest and rejuvenation. Primary themes from the discussions with women artists of color were creating a safe and inclusive space, providing sufficient opportunity for rest, promoting empowerment, and fostering relationships. Most participants agreed that the retreat should not be overscheduled; participants wanted free time for themselves and suggested allowing participants to choose from various activities in which to participate. Some expressed a desire to incorporate elements from each of their diverse cultures into the retreat experience to create a sense of belonging. It was also emphasized that the retreat will not seek to reawaken trauma that participants may have experienced. Participants wanted nature to be incorporated into the retreat, and wanted the location to be near a body of water. Food and cooking was suggested as one way in which participants could socialize and share their culture with others. Opinions varied on whether the retreat should include professional development. A neurodivergent participant indicated that they would like the schedule before arriving to the retreat and that additional steps should be taken to ensure that the environment is welcoming to neurodiverse and disabled participants. Potential barriers to participating in the retreat include financial constraints and overcoming feelings of guilt associated with leaving responsibilities behind.