Celebrating Youth Art Month, WKAR Public Media, Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University and Youth Arts Alliance announced the release of a series of short-form videos featuring personal stories of healing through art, as told by youth and young adults navigating the complexities of life. Youth Art Month, observed in March by the National Art Education Association, is a month of promoting art and art education in the United States.

"The Art of Healing" videos are available streaming in the free PBS App and at video.wkar.org. The series will begin airing on WKAR television later this month, seen between regular programming on the PBS station from Michigan State University.

“The Art of Healing” series features the stories of participants in "Maker Space" workshops, a program of the Youth Arts Alliance. Select projects from those workshops made up the exhibit, "Making Space: Designing Youth Futures," on display at Broad Art Museum on the campus of Michigan State University from August 2021 to January 2022.

In one video, Gracie Jersey of Jackson, Michigan, shares her story of perseverance through tragedy and hardship and how completing her art project, "Movie Theatre," gives her a rare feeling of accomplishment.

"I did it," she says. "I feel like I haven't been able to say that a lot."

"Youth Arts Alliance's ethos puts supportive relationships with skilled teaching artists at the center of individual healing, social and emotional growth, and community connectedness,” said Heather Martin, founding director of Youth Arts Alliance. “Often YAA offers access to first-time arts experiences in a myriad of disciplines, energizing the creativity of young people through opportunity. The partnership between MSU Broad, WKAR and Youth Arts Alliance affirms the expansive talents of young people, their newly claimed identities as artists and celebrating their works in public exhibition."

To read the full story, visit wkar.org