Buy Tickets Here! For well over a decade, ACA has been a leader in providing arts and medicine programming for central Florida, made possible by generous support from The Pabst Steinmetz Foundation, the United Way, and other funders. Saturday is a full day of prog......More
  Buy Tickets Here! For well over a decade, ACA has been a leader in providing arts and medicine programming for central Florida, made possible by generous support from The Pabst Steinmetz Foundation, the United Way, and other funders. Saturday is a full day of programming from professionals in the fields of art, medicine, and wellness, with breakfast, lunch and dinner provided by ACAâs Chef Morgan Coppola. Keynote speaker is art therapist, Jean Taras. Research demonstrates how participating in the arts benefits our mental health: Clinical research shows 45 minutes of artistic activity reduces cortisol (the stress hormone) by 25%60% of Americans report art helps them cope during mental or emotional distress69% experience arts as an elevating force beyond everyday experiencesWhether youâre painting, dancing, singing, writing, or drawingâyouâre actually practicing self-care! Art is a powerful tool for wellbeing.* This professional development shares ways to connect the arts to community health. A beautiful learning circle for all! Overnight accommodations are available for Friday and Saturday night. Meals not provided Friday or Sunday. Programming and all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided only on Saturday. * Statistics from Americans for the Arts  KEYNOTE SPEAKERJean Taras, M.A., ATR-P⨠Jean Taras is a certified art therapist, artist, and clinical mental health counselor dedicated to using creativity as a path to healing and self-discovery. She facilitates art therapy workshops at The Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park, serves as an art educator at the Orlando Museum of Art, and partners with community organizations to bring accessible, wellness-focused programs to children, teens, adults, and seniors. In addition to her community work, Jean provides individualized support for private clients, guiding them to build resilience, strengthen self-esteem, and express themselves through art. PRESENTERChristina Katsolis Christina Katsolis is Programming Director for the Southeast Museum of Photography, designing exhibitions, developing curriculum and community engagement opportunities. She believes art is stronger when aligned with a cause, and has the ability to uplift, heal, and empower both artist and audience. The past 8 years she led Art in Action classes for veterans and their families at no cost and prioritizes exhibiting their work. As an artist herself experimenting with different forms of photography and image-making methods, she is influenced by materials and processes, taking inspiration nature. PRESENTERJenn Benner Jenn Benner is an artist, educator, and nonprofit professional with a B.A. in Art History from the College of Charleston. She has over 20 yearsâ experience creating innovative visual arts programming for youth in the community with trauma-informed teaching and social-emotional learning. As a teaching artist and program director in a variety of museums and nonprofit organizations across the south, she is currently serving as Curriculum Director and Lead Teaching Artist for ArtReach Orlando. Jenn also piloted and oversees The Healing HeARTs program for patients and their caregivers, receiving a 2024/2025 Pabst Steinmetz Foundation Award. Jenn is inspired seeing students create to reach their full potential through creative expression. PRESENTERAlexis Collum As a multimedia community-based art-ivist, Alexis Collum creates artwork that is intimately connected with the Earth, People, and Animals. She utilizes the powerful healing and storytelling properties of art to inspire collaboration, creative expression, personal development, and active participation towards creating a better world for everyone. She is a passionate teaching artist for youth to find and express their authentic voices, and believes in the power of art to bring peace and creative flow. Her goal is to uplift and illuminate the inner and collective psyche. Alexis earned a BA in Studio Arts with a minor in Business from the University of Central Florida and is based in Orlando, Florida where she currently works as a teaching artist with ArtReach Orlando and as scenic artist with theatre companies such as the Orlando Opera. PRESENTERBethany Bennett Bethany is an interdisciplinary artist who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Central Florida and her Master of Fine Arts from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The artwork she produces question womenâs equality and role in society. Her investment in the community is to boost othersâ confidence and self-worth through artistic practices. Currently she is a professor at Daytona State College and leads community outreach at Atlantic Center for the Arts.  Buy Tickets Here!
ACA Main Campus, 1414 Art Center Ave, New Smyrna Beach, FL, 32168, United States
