'Libertas': Art Therapy as a Medical Form of Support for Persons with Disabilities

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The association "Libertas" in Sarajevo organized a scientific project "Art Therapy as a Medical Form of Support for Persons with Intellectual, Physical and Psychosocial
Disabilities", under the auspices of the Ministry of Health of Sarajevo Canton.

Scientific workers who participated in this gathering emphasized that music and visual arts for children affirm critical and aesthetic thinking, stimulate the creative process, thereby influencing the cognitive-value aspect of children, i.e., the possibility of their personal development and cultural prosperity, and promote a culture of living and the value of lifelong learning and creation, "Libertas" announced.

Under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, "Libertas" also organized interactive creative therapy workshops for children and youth with developmental and learning disabilities and their families.

Workshop participants were also educated on basic musical and visual art concepts (segment of educational activity) and informed about the possibilities of recycling and making Christmas and New Year's decorations. The project also included a handicrafts workshop, a ceramics workshop, and a visual arts workshop.

Children with developmental disabilities, parents and family members of children with developmental disabilities, and children without developmental disabilities participated in the creative workshops. The facilitators of the creative workshops were pedagogues, social workers, and artists. The creative workshops included listening to children's music, singing, and dance activities for the participants. New Year's packages were donated to the participants from the "Oaza" Association.

After the workshops, exhibitions were organized at the "Dom mladih" (Festival "Kao nekad pred Božić 2019" - Like in the Old Days Before Christmas 2019) and at the Parish Office of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Sarajevo (Christmas Fair), where participants exhibited their works created during the workshops.

As part of the official program of the Festival "Kao nekad pred Božić 2019", a fitting children's program was held, featuring Minja Subota, Mladen Jeličić-Troko, the ballet group "Bellarte", and the children's choir of the kindergarten "Sveta obitelj" (Holy Family).

"Rehabilitative-therapeutic activities develop motor skills, creative expression, independence and self-confidence, reduce the negative effects of damage symptoms, and develop social competencies in users, which is why the Association "Libertas" organized creative workshops for making Christmas and New Year's decorations from ecological materials and recycled waste, for which participants brought waste from home as material for work," said the president of the Association "Libertas", Pavao Zornija.