For Immediate Release
September 25, 2023
CLARK ART INSTITUTE EXPANDS RX FOR WELLBEING PROGRAM TO TRAUMA PROGRAM
AT BERKSHIRE MEDICAL CENTER
(Williamstown, Massachusetts)—The Clark Art Institute and Berkshire Medical Center are teaming to provide a new mental health service aimed at providing assistance to trauma victims.
The Clark currently offers a county-wide program, Rx for Wellbeing at the Clark, through local mental health practitioners as a means of encouraging engagement with art as part of a therapeutic treatment plan for those dealing with issues like depression, anxiety, and social isolation. The new initiative with Berkshire Medical Center, Access to Wellbeing at the Clark, extends the program to offer victims of trauma opportunities to engage with art as a part of their recovery efforts.
To date, the Rx for Wellbeing program has been beta tested with a select group of Berkshire County-based providers who have prescribed involvement with the Clark to their clients as part of their individualized treatment plan. Through the new Access program, the Institute extends its outreach to a greater portion of the community by partnering with medical practitioners to offer free admission to the Clark’s galleries and its programs to the clients these trauma doctors support and serve.
“There have been a number of scientific studies that have linked engagement with art to improved health and wellbeing,” said Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark. “We firmly believe that looking at a painting or any other type of art can spark self-reflection, inspiration, and understanding that can help people in numerous ways. By deepening our commitment to this project, we hope we will be able to help better serve the needs of our community by providing a way to assist them in discovering and enjoying the restorative power of art.”
The original Rx for Wellbeing program was developed by the Clark’s Director of Education Ronna Tulgan Ostheimer, working in close collaboration with a cohort of mental health practitioners who advised her.
“At the Clark, we define art as “the expression or reflection of human experience, imagination, and values,” Tulgan Ostheimer said. “Engaging with art offers an opportunity to consider and explore what it means to be a human being. Further, making connections with art can encourage positive self-awareness, appreciation of others, and a sense of connectedness to a larger-than-self reality. A visit to the museum can be a break from the pressures of daily life, a new experience, and/or a constructive family bonding activity.”
Earlier this year, Tulgan Ostheimer was approached by Dr. Mark Kryskow, the Berkshire Medical Center’s Trauma Medical Director, to consider how the Rx program could be expanded to assist trauma victims.
“Suffering a traumatic injury can result in not only physical issues, but also can be mentally and emotionally challenging,” said Kryskow. “Our partnership with the Clark allows our Trauma Program team providers to refer interested patients to the Access program, which through the beautiful art at the Clark could be helpful in reducing the stress that often comes with trauma.”
For information on how individuals can participate in the program, visit clarkart.edu/education or contact the Clark’s Education Department at 413 458 0563.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of some 300,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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