Named after the artist Artemisia Gentileschi, Project Artemisia is a campaign dedicated to providing survivors of sexual violence with mental health resources and sharing work created by survivors. Staying true to Artemisia’s resilience and craft, our focus primarily pertains to arts-based healing. Project Artemisia was created by Olivia Han, a student at Swarthmore College. A survivor herself, she has dedicated her time at college to organizing for survivors and aiding them along their mental health journey.
Sexual violence is an issue that plagues college campuses with 26.4% of women and 6.8% of men having experienced rape or sexual assault; and yet, few mental health resources are made accessible to survivors. Most campuses only provide talk therapy with little acknowledgement of the power of expressive arts healing. Art as a medium for wellness has long been seen as beneficial as it allows for the artist to convey emotions beyond what can be said aloud. Here, we advocate for survivors to speak, write, paint, or sculpt their truth.
Project Artemisia aspires to raise awareness about the unique needs of survivors and the transformative power of arts-based healing. By destigmatizing survivorship and mental health care, we aim to foster a supportive community where survivors can share their experiences and find solace in knowing they are not alone.