A System for Archiving Client Artwork in Graduate Art Therapy Education

Abstract

An art therapy archive of client artwork can function as a diverse resource for student learning, research, and the expansion of art therapy as a mental health profession. There is little research regarding implications for archiving client artwork in graduate art therapy education and research. The overall purpose of this study was to develop a system for archiving client artwork for the graduate art therapy program at Herron School of Art & Design, Indiana University-­‐Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in Indianapolis, IN. The proposed archival system was developed through the examination of traditional archival literature and the administration of an online survey to graduate program directors of art therapy programs approved by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). The goal of the mixed-methods survey was to collect data regarding the use, format, storage, and description of the client artwork within graduate art therapy programs. Thirteen of 35 participants responded to the survey. All 13 participants indicated that their respective art therapy programs utilized client artwork for various reasons, but client artwork was not retained at the program level. A digital image of client artwork was the format most used/preferred and was identified as the format that best represents the original client artwork. A digital archival system was developed from the literature review and online survey results. Box at Indiana University (Box at IU) was determined to be the most ethical and efficient online storage system for Herron's client artwork archive, which included four levels of archival arrangement.