About Project Artemisia

Our mission is to raise awareness about sexual violence on college campuses. Project Artemisia specifically centers on survivor’s mental health and aims to provide colleges and universities with stronger survivor-based mental health resources.

Our Story

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.

Our Future

paintingLooking forward, Project Artemisia aims to create a shift in the systems of support amongst Philadelphia colleges and universities. The peer-organized services will help students incur better mental health and personal support systems, ultimately building a community of survivors with the intent of decreasing the shameful stigma that surrounds survivorship. It is our hope to expand our work nationwide, helping students implement arts-based wellness programs in their communities.

Together, we can build a future where every survivor has access to the resources they need to heal and the opportunity to express their journey through art. Join us in supporting this vital mission and help create a world where survivors are seen, heard, and empowered.

You’re not alone.