CCAD kicks off mindfulness initiative with lecture by NYT writer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug 8, 2019
David Gelles, New York Times reporter and author of Mindful Work, will talk about mindfulness and the arts as part of the President's Lecture Series at Columbus College of Art & Design on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. Photo courtesy of David Gelles.
Columbus, Ohio—From the sculptor’s studio to the concert hall, mindfulness and meditation have emerged as essential tools for artists of all mediums, fueling them with inspiration and giving them enhanced focus.
So, Columbus College of Art & Design is launching a new mindfulness pilot program for students, faculty, and staff starting in fall 2019.
The program will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 p.m., when CCAD President Melanie Corn hosts a lecture and Q&A with New York Times reporter and author David Gelles on mindfulness and the arts.
Gelles is the author of the 2015 book, Mindful Work: How Meditation is Changing Business from the Inside Out, which brings together Gelles’ 15 years of meditation practice and his work as a business journalist, shedding light on how business leaders have discovered that meditation can be key to fostering a happier, more productive workplace.
“Columbus College of Art & Design is committed to creating a campus culture built on healthy creativity and creative excellence,” Dr. Corn says. “We’re excited to have New York Times journalist David Gelles here at CCAD to talk about the importance of mindfulness in the arts as we kick off this new initiative designed to help our students thrive.”
Following Gelles’ talk, CCAD will launch a 4-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program for a group of 20 students, faculty, and staff. The program, led by mindfulness expert Cecilia Shanahan of Mindful Learning Lab, will include learning to practice several forms of mindfulness meditation, engage in a community of inquiry and reflection, and cultivate personal growth.
The program, a shortened version of the 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979 by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, is aimed at cultivating greater awareness and ease. When offered as a complementary treatment, MBSR has been proven effective at helping to treat anxiety and depression.
CCAD’s focus on mindfulness and healthy creativity comes as mental health issues continue to be a challenge for college students across the U.S. and even more so at art and design colleges.
According to a 2018 Healthy Minds Study in which CCAD and other members of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design participated, students at AICAD schools reported higher rates of anxiety and depression compared to students at non-AICAD schools—with 43% of students at AICAD schools reporting anxiety compared to 26% of students at non-AICAD schools and 52% of students at AICAD schools reporting depression compared to 31% of students at non-AICAD schools.
CCAD’s new mindfulness initiative follows a 24-hour student-led Unplugged Day in February 2019 and research by students in a design research class looking for ways to bring more healthy creativity to the college.
In addition to the mindfulness program, CCAD also plans to launch a workshop in fall 2019 to help faculty find ways to bring mindfulness into their classrooms and individual creative practices.
About the event
CCAD President’s Lecture Series: David Gelles on mindfulness and the arts
Wednesday, Sept. 25 | 6:30 p.m.
CCAD Canzani Center Auditorium | 60 Cleveland Ave.
Join CCAD President Melanie Corn as she hosts a lecture and Q&A with New York Times writer and author David Gelles on “mindfulness and the arts.” From the sculptor’s studio to the concert hall, mindfulness and meditation have emerged as essential tools for artists of all mediums, fueling them with inspiration and giving them enhanced focus. Gelles’ 2015 book Mindful Work brings together his 15 years of meditation practice and his work as a business journalist, shedding light on how business leaders have discovered that meditation can be key to fostering a happier, more productive workplace. Read more, and get your free ticket at ccad.edu/mindfulwork.
About Columbus College of Art & Design
Columbus College of Art & Design teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the midst of a thriving creative community in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1879, CCAD is one of the oldest private, nonprofit art and design colleges in the United States, and in 2019, the college is celebrating 140 years of creative excellence. CCAD offers 12 BFA programs and two master’s programs in art and design that produce graduates equipped to shape culture and business at the highest level. For more information, visit ccad.edu.
Media contact
Jeannie Nuss
Director of Public Relations
614.222.6162
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