Willow Arts Community

It was founded in 2015 by a group of artists, educators, creatives and community workers, all with lived or living experience of mental illness/substance use disorder (MI/SUD). In 2018, the Willow Arts Community began a three-year project with Workman Arts in Toronto, Mindful Makers Collective in Thunder Bay with the goal of decreasing social isolation with active participation in community arts.  

The project aimed to raise awareness of the prevalence of social isolation of individuals living with mental illness, and the benefits of participating in the arts as an effective way to increase a sense of belonging to a community, expand social networks, and build social skills. Their evidence-based program has been implemented in Toronto for 30 years and has linked the Willow to a province-wide network of resource-sharing, best practices, and research.

Upon receiving charity status in 2021, the organization broadened its reach to improve the lives of people living with mental illness/substance use in Niagara Region. Special Projects include murals, off-site arts programming, zines, forums and youth events.