Capacity building, HEAL Resources

Module 3: Practical play and impactful imagination

How can expressive arts programs create structured, supportive, and meaningful experiences for newcomers experiencing gender-based domestic violence (GBDV)?

This module explores how expressive arts programs are structured and facilitated to support safety, connection, and meaningful participation for newcomer communities experiencing GBDV. Module 3 introduces the HEAL program journey and explores how expressive arts approaches, including storytelling, visual art, movement, music, mindfulness, and collaborative art-making, can support emotional expression, resilience, identity, and connection. Learners will reflect on how intentional structure and flexibility can help create spaces where participants feel welcomed, empowered, and supported.

What you will learn?

Understand how expressive arts programs are structured and facilitated, including session flow, check-ins, check-outs, creative activities, and the progression of themes that support participant experiences.
Explore how expressive arts activities and facilitation practices support safety, connection, and emotional expression, including the use of movement, music, storytelling, visual art, mindfulness, and collaborative art-making.
Reflect on how intentional program structures can foster participant well-being, including emotional regulation, identity exploration, resilience, hope, and belonging within group settings.

Sections in this module

This module is organized into four sections. Each section explores a key concept or approach that supports the overall learning outcomes. References referred to within the module can be accessed in the final section of this learning module.

HEAL Program structure and phases
Guest speaker integration
Expressive arts check-in and check-out activities
Artful response and additional resources

How does the course work?

Creative Pathways is a self-directed course made up of 6 modules. The modules will engage you in several topics related to GBDV and the arts, through participatory activities, videos, and additional resources. Each module will take approximately 1 – 1.5 hrs. to complete.

Acknowledgements

Creative Pathways is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to prevent and address family violence in partnership with six implementation agencies including Arab Community Centre of Toronto (ACCT), Canadian-Bangladeshi Community Services (BCS), Toronto Neighbourhood Group (TNG), Sherbourne Health, Art + Health, and the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic. Curriculum developed by the HEAL project team.

Questions? Contact: arts@accessalliance.ca