Art of Wellness program offers students space to pause, create and connect

A new UC Santa Barbara program aims to meet a growing need among students: support for managing stress and anxiety in everyday life.

Launched this winter, "Art of Wellness" combines meditation, creative exercises and informal community-building in a series of workshops open to all students. The program is led by France Winddance Twine, a sociology professor who recently stepped into the role of associate vice chancellor of culture and inclusive excellence, with a focus on mental health-related programming.

Held every other Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Mosher Alumni House Room 2104, "Art of Wellness" sessions help students develop skills and strategies to cope with stress and cultivate compassion. Each session includes a free lunch from locally owned South Coast Deli.

Twine said the idea emerged from both her professional background and what she has observed in recent years.

"Beginning during the pandemic and then afterwards, I noticed that I had more and more students who had anxiety disorders, had depression," she said.

Before pursuing her academic career, Twine was employed as a mental health worker at the Institute of Psychiatry at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Her initial area of specialization was with men and women struggling with eating disorders. A decade later while at UC Berkeley, she worked at the Mission Crisis Center providing outpatient clinical services. That experience, combined with what Twine has observed in the post-COVID era, a noticeable shift in student well-being, led her to think about how the university might expand its approach to support.

At the same time, she began exploring creative practices during the pandemic, taking part in online art programs and reconsidering the role of art in daily life.

"I started really thinking about art as a form of therapy," she said.

The resulting program is designed to be accessible and low commitment. Workshops typically begin with a short meditation, followed by a guided art activity. Students are provided with materials and invited to participate at their own pace.

"They just have to show up," Twine said.

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.