AN ART therapy program at Aboriginal health centre Nidjalla Waangan Mia (NWM) proved a success with the artworks now on display at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.
NWM manager George Walley said the four-month program had started as an art session for local elderly residents.
“What evolved is realising it was a therapy,” Mr Walley said.
“They sit down at NWM doing art and they get to talk, they get away from home for a few hours, it’s like an outing for them.
“I got them to tell me the stories behind [their work] and it was amazing.”
Mr Walley said he was grateful to the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre for putting the works on display and hoped NWM would run another art therapy program.
Artist John Mitchell, who has 20 paintings on display, said the art therapy program helped him to relax.
“It gave me a feeling of being able to do something,” he said.
“I was feeling mixed up and it pulled me out.”
NWM program coordinator for outreach Anne Walsh said the art therapy was partly about social inclusion.
“This group coming together and sharing their stories has been a worthwhile adventure,” she said.