HAI has been awarded a Challenge America: Access to the Arts grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to expand the Saturday Art Studio to include a computer generated art component. In the past, the Studio has focused on conventional two and three dimensional art.

This addition is being made in response to the current interests of the HAI mental health consumer constituency and to the development of new art forms such as digital photography, digital video filming and editing, computer animation, computer graphics, web design, and unimagined media yet to come.

The NEA grant will allow HAI to purchase and maintain computer equipment and add a specialist teacher in computer graphic design. HAI will be on the cutting edge of creative arts activities for people living with mental illness in New York City.

Participants in community-based mental health programs in the Metropolitan area are invited to apply for this program by phoning 212-575-7696 and speaking to Elizabeth Marks. Prospective enrollees should be actively participating in a mental health community-based treatment program or live in a group residence. They should be prepared to commit to regular weekly attendance.