Creative Things Come in Little Art Packets

In 2020, we saw our world creatively meet the challenges of the global pandemic. Suddenly, we had to figure out how to take care of one another and communicate with each other in all new ways.

Art Equals began as a nonprofit in the midst of that uncertain time, and so it was important for us to think outside the box as we began to engage with the community. We started to ask a lot of questions.

How do you develop accessible creative opportunities when you can’t share a room with another person?

How can you be creative with no supplies?

How can creativity be useful in the midst of an international health crisis?

I was an art therapist working in a retirement community during this time. It was important to me that my clients were able to have creative outlets in the midst of lockdowns and health scares.

So, the art packet was born.

I designed an envelope with a few materials and a sheet with simple directions and conversational questions. These art packets became the lifeline I could provide to clients when I wasn’t in the building. As I saw the mounting stress among the staff, I encouraged nurses and other care providers to join what I hoped would be a small respite in great uncertainty.

When I left to start Art Equals, I brought the art packets with me into a very different space. At the Hellmann Creative Center, I began sharing packets with people who sat in the parking lot while their taxes were being prepared.

Now, the challenge of providing safe, contained, accessible projects really took a new turn. What kinds of art can be made in the confines of a car? Well, we discovered that stained glass scratch art, popsicle stick weaving looms, and stop motion animation scenes were all possible while buckled up!

We hope that the lockdown is hopefully behind us. Still, art packets continue to be a important part of our work in the community.

Our art packets have provided zine-making opportunities at the Covington Night Market. They supported grieving community members at a dear friend’s visitation service. Art packets invited kids to create webs and to learn about spiders’ creativity at Fall Festivals.

Each art packet continues to honor its original pandemic mission: to provide a self-contained, accessible creative opportunity in one envelope. We know have over a dozen different art packets!

We would love to share an art packet with you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to make art packets available at your organization or local business. Come by the studio at the Hellmann Creative Center in Covington, KY, to try one out for yourself!