Art Therapy Studio Project

Abstract

Over the course of the last year I have had a number of very interesting conversations with colleagues about the spaces we work in as art therapists. These discussions have often revolved around the contested nature of these spaces and how they may be compared with those art therapists previously occupied. It would appear that the passing of the years has not necessarily been kind to art therapists, or our clients in relation to this.

This set me thinking about what we have and what we have lost. It may be, for instance, that we do not yet fully understand the impact the loss of dedicated studio spaces, and the increasing use of multi-functional rooms shared with other professionals has had up on art therapy. So far as I am aware, there has been no co-ordinated attempt to document and record for posterity the environments within which the practice of art therapy currently takes; or has taken place in the past.