Art for the Journey is honored to be a recipient of the Sheltering Arms Community Partnership award for 2026-2027! The Sheltering Arms Foundation (SAF) has awarded AFJ a $12,500 Operating Grant to expand access to best-practice art programming for people with physical disabilities and mobility challenges.
The Sheltering Arms Foundation deeply aligns with Art for the Journey’s work to foster well-being, health, and community for those with limited access to the arts. With this valuable funding from SAF, Art for the Journey’s initiative, Elevating Lives through Art (ELA), has wings to make best-practice art programming accessible to people of all ages and abilities, especially those marginalized due to condition or circumstance.
Based on the acclaimed Opening Minds through Art (OMA) program, a Scripps Gerontology Program of Excellence, the ELA initiative is a series of adaptations of OMA, preserving its research-backed principles while expanding its reach.
Over the next year, Art for the Journey will partner with community agencies that align with the mission of Sheltering Arms Foundation to improve wellbeing and mental health for people experiencing mobility challenges and long-term physical disabilities.
Using qualitative research modalities, the program will be implemented with the expertise of occupational therapy researchers, clinically trained therapists, and certified OMA Facilitators.
“With the support of the Sheltering Arms Foundation, we are thrilled to introduce the Art for the Journey’s program, Elevating Lives through Art (ELA) to new populations,” said Cindy Paullin, CEO of Art for the Journey. “ELA is intended to reach all ages and abilities, and what we learn as we adapt the beloved OMA program will enrich the programming for every demographic we serve.
“We are honored to steward these funds at the intersection of arts and health, and to deliver intergenerational programming and training to help sustain and grow the positive impact the arts has on our lives!”
Thank you, Sheltering Arms Foundation!
