From Pain to Art: Clackmannanshire’s Creative Response to Covid

The Covid-19 pandemic deeply impacted individuals and communities, with feelings of loss, grief, and isolation affecting us all. In response, art has become a powerful medium through which many have processed and expressed these emotions, turning personal pain into powerful and meaningful creations.

Art as Emotional Expression

Art is often used as a way to process emotions, enabling people to transform their grief, loss, and fear into something tangible and beautiful. Research shows that engaging in creative practices can be healing during times of emotional stress. According to The American Psychological Association, art-making can reduce anxiety and depression, while fostering resilience and emotional growth.

Psychologist Dr. Cathy Malchiodi, a leading figure in art therapy, notes that "creating art, whether through painting, drawing, or sculpting, can be a vehicle for emotional release. It allows individuals to process trauma without having to put feelings into words, which is particularly valuable when dealing with the unspoken grief of the pandemic."

In our Clackmannanshire Remembering Together workshops, many individuals found a way to express their feelings through a variety of artistic methods. They engaged in activities like painting, poetry, and sculpture, each using art as a tool to navigate and heal from the complex emotions brought on by the pandemic.

A Journey of Self-Expression and Collective Healing

Art workshops throughout the project created a space for individuals to reflect on their personal journeys while connecting with others. The importance of this collective experience is profound. Each participant found that while their feelings of loss were personal, their struggles were shared, and the collective act of creating art became a path toward communal healing.

One participant commented, “At first, I didn’t think I could create anything, but the process of painting what I was feeling helped me understand my emotions better. It wasn’t about making something perfect—it was about expressing what I had been holding inside.”

By turning these experiences into art, participants were able to release emotions they might not have been able to express otherwise, thus contributing to a shared experience of recovery. The artwork created, which was later displayed in local exhibitions, became a testament to the resilience and creativity of our community.

Art is for Everyone

A key challenge in engaging people in art-making is the common belief that one must be a talented artist to create anything of value. Many individuals hesitate to engage in artistic activities because of this misconception, often carried from their school days, where art is too often associated solely with traditional forms like drawing or painting.

At Resonate Together, we have always emphasised that art is not just about creating a perfect picture. Rather, it’s about the process of creative thinking—problem-solving through creativity. Whether it’s making a sculpture, writing a poem, or participating in a collective mural, the value lies in the expression and emotional release, not in producing a technically perfect piece.

Psychologist Dr. James Pennebaker has emphasized that "creative expression—whether in writing or visual arts—allows people to navigate complex emotions and come to terms with them, which is essential for long-term well-being." This understanding of art as a therapeutic tool rather than a competitive or purely aesthetic pursuit enabled our community to engage more freely.

By opening the door for all community members to embrace creativity, we’ve shown that art is not just for a select few, but for everyone. Through these workshops, participants learned to see art as a valuable means of working through their pandemic experiences. The transformation of grief into creativity has left a lasting mark on both individuals and the community as a whole.