FAQs About The Art Room
You have questions, we have answers in our newly added Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about The Art Room. If there’s information you are searching for, but cannot find on our website, or you have other questions not listed here, please contact us!
I want to come to the art room, how much does it cost?
Participation in The Art Room is free to anyone who has a mental health problem. All you have to do is register with us online here and we will let you know all the details about attending.
I don’t have a formal diagnosis or see a therapist, can I still come to the art room?
Yes, you can come to The Art Room, even if you are not referred by a therapist, aren’t seeing a therapist, or haven’t been “formally” diagnosed with a mental health condition by a therapist or psychiatrist. We understand that many people aren’t actively in treatment, can’t afford mental health care, or have developed mental health problems and are coping with these problems on their own. In our registration process, we ask about your mental health symptoms or problems so that we’ll know if The Art Room is the right fit for you, and so that we can have an idea of how to best support you if there is a need.
How long after submitting my application can I attend the art room?
Once your application is submitted, we will review it within 7 days (but usually 1-2 days) and contact you via your preferred method of contact to welcome you to The Art Room, and to let you know the next steps. We will have a volunteer contact you to set up an orientation.
Once accepted to The Art Room, do I have to attend a certain number of times to maintain eligibility?
No, you can attend as much or as little as possible. Of course, we would love for you to attend on a regular bases to establish art and creativity as a positive coping skill and to be able to reap the benefits of art to improve your mental health.
Is the information on my application kept private?
Yes, only The Art Room board members and volunteers have access to the application information, unless you sign a written consent for The Art Room to release the information to anyone else.
When is the art room open?
The Art Room has open studio hours for adults on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00-3:00 pm, and for teens on Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm. We also have other art instruction and therapeutic art opportunities called Workshop Wednesdays, which is an art instruction class, and Therapeutic Thursdays, a therapeutically oriented class, so check the calendar for what will be coming up on those days.
can i walk in to the art room during open studio hours and sign up to participate?
We prefer that people sign up in advance, either through our website here or on the phone, but if need be we can go through the paperwork during open studio hours in order to sign a person up to participate in The Art Room.
can children or teenagers sign up for the art room?
Yes, we have create a program for teens called Studio 416. That program offers open studio that allows teens to engage in the art activity of their choice. On occasion, such as the summer or for specific topics, we will offer structured art instructional classes. Check our calendar to see what is happening with Studio 416.
What kind of therapy do you provide at the art room? is it art therapy?
At The Art Room, we offer people the studio space, the art supplies, and guidance from artist volunteers and mental health volunteers to do whatever kind of art you interested in or want to create. We don’t do art therapy per se, and though we might make suggestions to you on how to get started on a creative project, we don’t give assignments or tasks or comment on your art for a specific therapeutic purpose.
We do believe that just engaging in art within a safe and encouraging environment will be a therapy of its own. And we do find that people use their art projects as a way to express themselves about their problems or their recovery, either through collage, altered books, painting or drawing. Whether intentional or intuitive, direct or indirect, we hope that engaging in art is therapeutic for everyone.
We have added a therapeutic element to The Art Room, with our Therapeutic Thursday class, taught by licensed Occupational Therapists. Therapeutic Thursdays creates classes involving self exploration and art.
in addition to open studio time, what about classes?
We do offer classes once a month in a series called Workshop Wednesdays, since we typically meet on Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 pm. The classes are different each month, so check our calendar to see what we are offering. We also have classes weekly involving art activities with a somewhat more therapeutic orientation called Therapeutic Thursdays, which meets on Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 pm.
I have a disability, can the art room accommodate me?
We try our best to accommodate and work with people’s disabilities in The Art Room. We have assistive devices to help hold painting or drawing tools if that is needed; we make every effort so that The Art Room is accessible and supportive of someone with a wheelchair or walker, or who needs to be supported in a particular way in order to engage in an art activity; and, we also have an ADA accessible bathroom. Just let us know on your Participant Form what kind of disability you have and how we can best support you.
I can’t find the art room, how do i get there?
The Art Room has moved from the Bakery location and is now around the corner on S. Locust St. Here are the specific directions to finding The Art Room:
Our address is 721 S. Locust Denton, TX 76201, right next door to Gene’s Paint and Body Shop. From Eagle Dr., you turn onto Locust St., a one-way street going north, and we are about 1/2 block from that intersection on the right. You’ll see a sticker station on the right hand corner of that intersection, then a tire shop, an auto repair shop, a house that’s a surveyor’s business, and then our place, right before Gene’s Body Shop. Since our building sets back from the road, with a partking lot out front, and a tree right at the sidewalk just before our driveway, it isn’t easy to see, so we’ve put a small sign out that says The Art Room, with our logo, between the sidewalk and the street.
Here’s a map:
Can I bring my pet to the art room?
We do not allow pets unless they are registered service animals. You may have an emotional support animal that you would like to bring to The Art Room, but unless your animal has been trained and registered as a service animal, we would not allow your pet to accompany you to The Art Room. Feel free to ask us more about that if you have any further questions.
Can I bring my art supplies to the art room?
Yes, many people bring their own art supplies or equipment with them when they come to The Art Room to work on their art projects, and they take their art supplies home with them. However, it is not necessary to bring your own art supplies because our studio is stocked with many wonderful and professional art materials. You can find just about any art supply you need at The Art Room, and if we don’t have it, please let us know when you are there, and we will try to get what you need.
Can i take art supplies from the art room home with me?
No, we do not allow people to take The Art Room art supplies home with them. You are welcome to take your art projects or artwork that you create in The Art Room home with you so that you can keep working on it at home with your own supplies, but The Art Room supplies and equipment stay in The Art Room.
Can I leave my Art or art projects in the art room?
Yes, many people leave the art projects they are working on in The Art Room in order to dry, or to be worked on later. We have limited storage space, however, and would like people to take their completed projects home with them. If you leave your artwork in The Art Room longer than 30 days, then it becomes the property of The Art Room, and may be used for fundraising purposes or recycled.
Can I bring a friend to the art room?
Yes, if you have a friend or relative visiting you and want them to accompany you, we do allow one time visits. Please let us know that you want to bring a friend so that the volunteers know in advance and are not confused or concerned about who the person is.
Can my caregiver come to the art room with me?
Yes. If you have a caregiver, we encourage you to bring them along and they too can do artwork at The Art Room. We want you to feel comfortable and supported, so we are happy for your caregiver to attend. If they do not want to be in The Art Room with you, we have a comfortable waiting room outside The Art Room space where they can wait for you.
Can I bring food to the art room?
Yes, you can bring snacks or drinks to The Art Room, and we do provide water and coffee, but we ask that you eat at a space provided away from the work area. Art materials can be toxic, so we think it isn’t a good idea to mix food and art materials. Also, any spills might unfortunately create messes or ruin artwork.
is there a restroom in the art room?
We do have an ADA accessible restroom in the hallway coming in to our suite, which we share with our suite mate, the Aikido studio. We do not have a restroom within The Art Room space or have access to water, so you will need to use the restroom down the hall.
I would like to support the art room, how do i do that?
You can support The Art Room in several ways. You can make a financial donation, either on a recurring or one-time basis; you can donate art supplies to The Art Room, so please check our wishlist to see what we are needing, or contact us to let us know what you want to bring and to make arrangements for delivery; or you can volunteer your time if you are an artist, mental health professional, or writer/social media person. Thanks for all your support!!