After two years of hosting its annual Art of Recovery event virtually, Community Support Services (CSS) will again celebrate the role of artistic expression in recovery during a live event March 22 at its new location: the Akron Art Museum.

Art of Recovery showcases the artistic creations of CSS clients, many of whom are participants in CSS’ Expressive Arts Therapy program. Art therapy offers a creative way for clients with severe and persistent mental illness to explore their feelings, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. In addition to highlighting the artists, Art of Recovery helps to educate the public about mental illness.

Attendees will have the chance to speak with the artists, learn more about CSS’s art therapy program and bid on more than 50 original works of art.
The Art of Recovery auction will kick off prior to the live event, with bidding starting at 4 p.m. Friday, March 18, at https://bidpal.net/artofrecovery2022. The auction will wrap up at the end of the live event, which begins at 5:30 p.m. March 22. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds will go directly to the artists, while 25% will be reinvested into the Expressive Arts Therapy program.

Master Artist-level sponsors are Peg’s Foundation, SeibertKeck Insurance Partners and The Charles and Salome Reymann Foundation. Master Apprentice-level sponsors are Klein’s Pharmacy, PNC and Wealth Impact Advisors. Apprentice-level sponsors are TRIAD Communications and Smith Godios Sorensen. Patron of the Arts sponsors are Sikich, Inc., Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority and Bober Markey Fedorovich. Non-profit Supporters of the Arts are NAMI Summit County and Portage Path Behavioral Health.

For more event information, visit www.cssbh.org/art-of-recovery. For information about Art of Recovery sponsorships, contact Michael Gaffney at 330-996-9141, ext. 433, or via email at michael.gaffney@cssbh.org.