Recovering substance users discover the art of wellbeing

The City of Cape Town’s Arts & Culture Branch has facilitated a wellbeing experience for 64 recovering substance users who attend the Matrix clinics. The experience is the latest instalment in an arts support programme that was first introduced in 2019, as part of the rehabilitation journey.

The Arts & Culture Branch has completed a series of art-based support programmes within the Matrix clinics stationed in different communities.

The participants are recovering substance users who attended clinics in the Tafelsig, Delft, Eerste River and Manenberg areas.

By way of storytelling, visual and performing arts programmes, this programme has offered support to clients for ongoing rehabilitation.

‘Art therapy helps patients express their emotions, improve self-esteem, relieve stress, cope with recovery, and improve symptoms of anxiety and depression. Creative activities, such as art therapy, allow those in the recovery to process their emotions on their own terms,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.

 Participants were offered a chance to join an Art of Wellbeing experience, which is the last phase of this support programme and 64 made use of the opportunity to experience additional tools focusing on self-care and self-development.

This included information sessions and demonstrations on holistic healing, self-care and health such as yoga, meditation, massage, holistic beauty and more, which the participants can practice at home with minimum resources.

The collaboration between the Arts & Culture Branch and the City’s Health Department, started in 2019 at the Parkwood Matrix® site where clients were exposed to visual arts therapy.

They were taught various art techniques which allowed them to express themselves in a new medium and enabled them to give expression to their creativity and how it related to their life and recovery journey.

Already 1 873 clients have accessed the Matrix® alcohol and drug treatment services at eight City sites, during this financial year.

‘Creativity in making art gives those with a substance addiction a different way of looking at their challenges. It also boosts their self-esteem and is a positive way of using time. Now it has also given them the chance to experience a day of pampering and wellbeing,’ said Councillor Van der Ross.