Art Is The Cure
Visit Art is the Cure website https://www.artisthecure.org/
Meet Rich Simmons
Rich Simmons is a London-based, urban Pop artist who has exhibited his work all over the world. The subject matter of his work creatively explores visual pop culture, art history, current events, human individuality, sexuality, and beyond.
He is also the creator and founder of Art Is The Cure, an award-winning organization that promotes creative expression and art therapy.
"I started Art Is The Cure in 2008 with a simple idea, inspire other people who were struggling to find creativity as a release. Art was a natural release for me, I had always been creative growing up. When I talked to my friends about the things I was going through at the time, I realised what I was doing was a form of art therapy. Instead of self harming or turning to negative releases when I was struggling at home, I would draw or paint and thats how I escaped the pain. Art was my cure. I realised that art therapy wasn’t well known enough for other people like me to find that natural release and I made it my goal to create something that would raise awareness and inspire others to find their creative cure. Over a decade later, Art Is The Cure has inspired countless people to discover creative therapy and find a cure through art."
-Rich Simmons
Rich visited Northwest Arkansas in 2019 as part of the Men of Steel, Women of Wonder exhibition featured at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. During his visit Rich was also contracted to paint a mural in Rogers. Largest mural he has painted and currently the largest mural in the state.
As the location for the mural is blocks from the Arkansas Arts Academy High School, Aaron Jones, AAA Director of Arts Integration and Museum Partnerships, asked Rich if some of the high school students could come watch him paint and have a brief conversation with him. Rich provided so much more! He not only met with our advanced art students he invited them to work on the mural with him. He also took time from his schedule to be a featured speaker at the high school, met with the LGBQT group, and has remained in close contact with our school since.
Students of Arkansas Arts Academy are proud ambassadors of the Art is the Cure movement and encourage
Student Willem Maidt shared how Art is his Cure story with AITC
ART IS THE CURE VISION
Art Is The Cure wants to change the way people see art as a form of creative therapy and inspire people to turn to creativity instead of negative releases. Our mission is to introduce as many people as possible to the concept of art therapy and the transformative nature of using creativity as a vehicle for healing.
By telling the stories of people who have used a version of art therapy in their life, we hope to inspire new people to see creativity in a new way and harness it for themselves. Through interviews, films, podcasts, workshops, school visits, fashion, street art, colouring books, events and more, we want to inspire hope, build a community and create a movement.
Read the post about Rich's largest mural and see of the process for the mural in Rogers, AR.
https://www.richsimmonsart.com/post/biggest-mural-of-my-life
Rich Simmons works with AAA senior Yanik Dwyer on a section of the mural.
AAA visual art students working with Rich Simmons on his mural in downtown Rogers.
"We believe that everyone has the ability to be creative and everyone has a cure at their fingertips. Our goal is to inspire people to tap into that creativity and find the strength to harness their inner artist to overcome negative experiences in life. This platform will be used to inspire people, through inspirational stories, interviews and films to become part of this growing community. With your support, we can turn this community into a movement that inspires people all over the world." -Rich Simmons