Expressive Textile Arts as a Caring Medium for the Vulnerable Groups

Abstract

“Participation in the arts and accessed to a range of arts opportunities can dramatically improve health outcomes and increase well-being” (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in Arts in health and well-being: Annual report 2010–11, p. 3, 2012). By integrating the expressive textile arts processes and allowing one to flow into another, the service users including ex-mentally ill patients and ex-offenders in this service-learning project gained access to their inner resources for healing, self-awareness and creativity. This study provides an overview of the service-learning subject “Community engagement through expressive textile arts and fashion” including the concepts and practice of expressive textiles arts. The project implementation of the interactive textile arts and fashion creativity workshops delivered by the subject lecturers is further elaborated. The quantitative research method is adopted to evaluate the impact of the expressive textile arts on service recipients and students, and the reflections from the students are also discussed.