Though not a direct allusion to those with differing abilities, renowned American artist Georgia O’ Keefe’s quote, ‘I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for’, perhaps best sums up art’s ability to give voice to those who find it challenging to express themselves through words.
And, it is also this very attribute that inspired a first-of-its-kind programme in Qatar where three alumni from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) – Zenab Al Khayat, Ayah Elnour, and Salma Awad – held supervised online workshops for teenagers with Down Syndrome from the Qatar chapter of Best Buddies International.
The sessions – which took place over six weeks, from November to December last year – were part of a pilot programme jointly conducted by volunteers from VCUarts Qatar and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), Sidra Medicine, Best Buddies International Qatar Chapter, and ATIC Psychological and Counselling Center in Dubai.
VCUarts Qatar and WCM-Q are partner universities of Qatar Foundation.
During the workshops – which were overseen by programme volunteers from participating entities – Al Khayat, Elnour and Awad guided the participating teenagers as they created watercolour paintings, collages, prints, and 3D artwork, using materials that were delivered to the students’ homes specifically for the purpose, from a local art supplier.
Al Khayat, Elnour and Awad familiarised themselves with appropriate techniques, approaches and communication tactics during the mentoring phase, to help make the sessions both effective and enjoyable. They also discussed key issues of ethics and confidentiality, issues that are essential to such engagement.
Eye Opening Experience
For Awad, the experience proved to be an ‘eye-opener’. Awad spent her time with a cousin suffering from Down Syndrome during quarantine.
I was inspired by her enthusiasm and creativity. And so, when I heard of this opportunity, I immediately knew this was for me.
The VCUarts Qatar alumna shared that this is her first experience learning from professional art therapists, and applying her art skills in a completely different field. She said that the sense of fulfilment and joy it brought her ran deep, so much so that after completing the workshops, she decided to join another workshop called Creative Safe Space that again combines art therapy with art education.
Dr Alan S Weber, Programme Developer and Professor of English at WCM-Q noted that the mentors and artists have clearly demonstrated how assisted online art-therapy can be successful in boosting confidence, creativity and socials skills in special needs children.
He said that the group is planning to do research on the programme in the GCC to understand how and why it was successful, adding that published research will assist other countries in the region to develop similar initiatives.
Aysha Alkooheji, Programme Administrator and Programme Manager for Community and Continuing Education at VCUarts Qatar, said that their participation stems from their commitment to showcase the powerful role that art can play in community development.
VCUarts Qatar currently offers online community classes, open to anyone looking to further develop their creative skills. You can also visit their website, qatar.vcu.edu, for more information about their academic offerings.
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