Four years ago, Richard Price; his sons, Jacob and Jordan; and their families established the Cynthia E. Price Scholarship for the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCA&D). The scholarship was created to honor Richard's late wife, artist and craftswoman Cynthia, and to financially assist students determined to improve the world around them through their artwork. The Cynthia E. Price Scholarship served as a catalyst for PCA&D to figure out how a program in the healing arts could bring the community together.

The president of PCA&D, Michael Molla, created a new strategic plan concentrating on external relationships that would enable PCA&D to work in conjunction with organizations and institutions around Lancaster County. PCA&D applied for and was awarded a Passion Grant from the Lancaster County Community Foundation. "This grant gave us the ability to host an artist in residence and form an advisory committee beyond PCA&D to oversee the Healing Arts program," explained Todd Snovel, special assistant to the president and director of strategic initiatives and development at PCA&D.

The college did not have to look far for an artist to fill the residency. PCA&D was preparing to distribute a press release when Jennifer Quigley made a cold call to the college. "We scheduled an interview with her to hear about her background, vision, and passion for the healing arts, and from that, it was clear we found our artist in residence," said Snovel.

Quigley's expertise is not simply art therapy, but expressive arts therapy. It's a process that incorporates numerous creative approaches such as music therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, play therapy, and more, which are blended to fit the needs of the client.

The Healing Arts program launched in January at PCA&D. "We've received a great response from the Advisory Committee," noted Deborah Barber, director of the institute for leadership, creative entrepreneurship, and innovation at PCA&D. "We have a diverse Advisory Committee with members from the local, state, and national arts, education, and health care communities."

PCA&D's Healing Arts program offers new pathways and opportunities for students to explore connections between art, community, and medicine. Students now have access to someone working in the field who can mentor them and help build their portfolios. As for the community, the Healing Arts program is another way for PCA&D to get involved with a variety of organizations in Lancaster County.

When the program was in the works, the COVID-19 pandemic was not on the college's radar. "This program took off at a time when the entire world was figuring out how to think about what they experienced and the resilience they demonstrated during the pandemic, and a program like this helps them answer these questions," noted Snovel.

PCA&D made it a mission to ensure that everyone would have access to the program. On Friday, June 4, there will be an outdoor exhibition displaying the work of students involved with the Healing Arts program. "In many ways, the exhibition will pay tribute to a wide perspective of diverse individuals so that anyone living and working in Lancaster County can connect to this program," explained Snovel.

Those interested in sponsoring the Healing Arts program may email Snovel at snovel@pcad.edu or call 717-396-7833, ext. 1010.