CSA Receives Governor’s Arts Award for Momentum
On August 3, 2018, Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg presented a Governor’s Arts Award on behalf of Gov. Kim Reynolds to Community Support Advocates of Des Moines during the 2018 Iowa Arts Summit in Ankeny. Administered by the Iowa Arts Council, the award recognizes and honors organizations in Iowa that have had a significant impact on the vitality of the arts in Iowa.
For 14 years, Community Support Advocates has organized an annual art show called “Momentum” to showcase artists with disabilities, brain injuries and mental health issues. The program exposes them to the arts, inspires non-traditional artists and enhances the skills of more advanced artists. The group expanded its mission in 2016 to connect under-served populations to art and, in 2017, received several grants to hire a coordinator, secure an arts studio and partner with local artists. “We started this (program) thinking ‘Where could they have a safe space to create art and be surrounded by it?’ and ‘How do we build hope and resiliency through the arts?'” said Christina Smith, CEO and president of Community Support Advocates. “But this is more than art therapy. We believe art can be transformative.” The group’s next goals focus on helping artists appeal to a wider audience, generate income and foster greater understanding of mental health and disability issues.
Mometum is currently taking entries for our annual art competition. The exhibition of winners will be at Hoyt Sherman the evening of October 11, 2018.
For more information visit, Momentum Program.
Learn more about the program here: Momentum Video