Creative Care is a program that uses the transformative power of the arts to support community health and well-being. Designed in partnership with art therapist and art educator, Charity O’Neill, Creative Care uses arts-based mentorship to cultivate the skills and resources associated with resilience.

Resilience is the ability of an individual to bounce back from life’s challenges and has an important impact on mental health. Research shows that resiliency can be built and strengthened by creating connections, fostering a sense of well-being, and finding a purpose. Creative Care is focused on building community connections, compassion, and social support while developing competence and confidence in art-making. Classes will also reinforce using art-making as a healthy coping skill. Led by trained Teaching Artists, Creative Care will provide an experience of high-quality arts education, peer connection, and supportive mentorship.

Creative Care is designed for youth between the ages of 9 and 13 and meets every week, on Tuesdays from 5pm-6:30pm. Each week will have a general group, open to youth of any gender. In the same time slot, a rotating gender-based group will be offered: Men in the Making for boys, Empower Her for girls, and Boundless Creators for gender-nonconforming youth. The year is broken down into 6-week sessions and we encourage participants to join us for multiple sessions, as they are able! Participation in Creative Care is offered at no cost to participants. Enrollment is limited to 12 students per group; spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis at TheCordialEye.org.

Creative Care is made possible by the generous partnership of the Peter and Elizabeth Tower Foundation and the Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation.

2026 Schedule

• Session 1 (Feb 24 - Mar 31): General group with Annie Lupton; Boundless Creators with Kai Barrows

• Session 2 (Apr 7 - May 19 ): General group with Lipe Borges; Men in the Making with Craig Florence

• Session 3 (May 26 - June 30): General Group with Craig Florence; Empower Her with Annie Lupton

• Session 4 ( July 7 - Aug 11): General Group with Lipe Borges; Boundless Creators with Kai Barrows

• Session 5 (Sept 8 - Oct 13): General Group with Kai Barrows; Empower Her with Annie Lupton

• Session 6 (Oct 20 - Nov 24): General Group with Lipe Borges; Men in the Making with Craig Florence