Daphne Xia

By Daphne Xia, The Seattle Medium

Arts and culture activities are beneficial for physical and mental health, but entertainment and leisure services can be expensive. In Seattle, several organizations use art as a medium to help people for free or at a low cost. 

Path with Art, located at 200 Mercer St., is a non-profit organization that aims to help people recover from trauma through artistic expression. It was founded in 2008 at two of its social service partner organizations, Recovery Cafe and Mary’s Place. This year, the organization is on track to serve 1,500 participants through free arts programming and currently works with 65 social service partners.

Participants, who are no- to low-income adults and families recovering from trauma, are referred to the organization through its partners. The program provides free art classes, workshops, art kits, open studios, exhibitions, events, and the Access Art program which gives participants opportunities to attend first-rate performances, exhibitions, guided tours and lectures at no cost. 

“Art as the universal language is a connector in and of itself–we can build empathy and understanding by listening to music or watching a film, or interpreting a painting,” Emily Shallman, program director at Path with Art, said in an email interview.

The organization also pays attention to minoritized communities by offering workshops led in Spanish. It served more participants who self-identified as BIPOC in 2022, doubling the number of participants that identify as Latino as well as doubling those who identify as Indigenous/Native American compared to 2021, according to Shallman. 

One of Path with Art’s partners, Jubilee Women’s Center, is a non-profit organization through which women experiencing poverty or domestic abuse can apply for residential or other holistic programs to get back on foot. It’s located near the Capitol Hill neighborhood on 18th Avenue. 

“The goal of our programs is to be a stepping stone for women experiencing crises on their path towards stability and self-efficiency,” said Colee Whitnah, communications and content coordinator at Jubilee. 

Its main services are residence programs, such as transitioning housing. Its free clothing boutique is quite popular with clients. Jubilee also offers tailored case management and behavioral-health management.  

Jubilee provides art and culture services through its partnership with Path with Art and free tickets for people to attend ballets, symphonies and operas, for example. 

“What I’ve noticed about the arts and culture with the older women in our programs is that they’re super excited about it,” said Whitnah. 

Arts education and experiences are also beneficial for older adults. According to an article by the National Institute of Aging, music, theater, dance, creative writing, and other participatory arts are shown to be beneficial for “improving older adults’ quality of life and well-being, from better cognitive function, memory, and self-esteem to reduced stress and increased social interaction.” 

Here in Seattle, the population is aging faster over the last decade. From 2000 to 2010, King County’s aging population increased by 0.4%. However, that number bumped up to 3.7% from 2010 to 2020, according to Washington State’s Office of Financial Management. Because of the baby boom wave across the United States, the population aged 65 and over had more than doubled between 1940 and 2020, from less than 7% to nearly 17%. 

The arts “provide an outlet for creativity, which is very important because we feel like you have to learn and grow every day and find something that stimulates the mind and the body,” said Carlye Teel, director of Ballard NW Senior Center.

Ballard NW Senior Center, located in the Ballard neighborhood, offers a variety of arts and culture classes, including language learning, literature, arts and crafts, and music for free or at low cost. It partners with the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Taproot Theatre and Market Street Singers, among other arts organizations. 

Susan Assadi, a member of the center, appreciates the art activities the center provides because they make post-retirement life more interesting and engaging. She made a lot of friends through gatherings like art classes and other events. 

Art fosters connection and inspiration for expression. Although it can be pricey to enjoy most of the times, at a low cost they are a useful medium for healing and thriving. 

“Art is what makes life joyful, and beautiful, and allows us to express ourselves–not only for what has happened to us, but also to help us imagine futures, and what “could be,” Shallman said.