Hillary Clinton Supports Art Therapy

Hillary Clinton Supports Art Therapy

"Mr. President, since the terrible tragedies of September 11…many of us have witnessed the enormous benefits of art therapy in helping both children and adults alike express their emotions in a very personal, touching way." Hillary Clinton, 11/29/01.

In June 2001, the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) sponsored a national art therapy exhibition on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, along with Iowa democratic senator Tom Harkin:

Twenty-eight art therapists submitted 90 pieces of artwork from 18 states and the District of Columbia for the show. The artwork, created by clients of diverse and vulnerable populations, reflects the personal growth and healing process that these individuals experienced as a result of working directly with a credentialed art therapist.

NY Senator Hillary Clinton, an advocate of the arts, accessible health care, optimal treatment and successful outcomes, attended the exhibit and spent 20 minutes talking with AATA representatives about art therapy.

From left: Donna Betts, Exhbition Curator; Laura Greenstone, AATA GAC; Senator Clinton; Irene Rosner David, AATA GAC; Marcia Rosal, AATA President.

A photo op with the artwork from New York with art therapist Irene Rosner David, PhD, of NYC's Bellevue Hospital.

As a follow-up to the exhibition, Senator Clinton submitted this official Statement to the Congressional Record. A ‘floor statement’ is a formal remark that a Senator or Representative puts forth ‘into the record’ serving as a significant means of educating Congress about a subject:

To view Hillary's Congressional Record Statement online, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/home/r107query.html and type "art therapy" in the Enter Search box.

Hillary touring the exhibit with Irene:

Hillary Clinton receiving an award from the American Art Therapy Association in recognition of her support of art therapy, Washington DC, 2002:

From left: Jenna Michalik Preston, AATA GAC; Senator Clinton; Irene Rosner David, AATA GAC.

To view another of Hillary's Congressional Record Statements supporting the Creative Arts Therapies, June 3, 2003, visit http://thomas.loc.gov/home/r108query.html and type "creative arts therapies" in the Enter Search box.