Community Partnerships
Bloom Art and Integrated Therapies is a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering evidenced-based art therapy services to reach residents of all ages in the greater Milwaukee area.
Bloom partners with Marquette University, Milwaukee Public Schools, the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as other organizations, and receives grant funding to provide art therapy interventions citywide from elementary age students up to our most senior community members.
With our partners at Marquette Center for Peacemaking, for the past 5 years Bloom has pioneered art therapy services in the Milwaukee Public Schools. At the MPS Success Center, art therapy programing thrives through research-driven, trauma-informed curriculum that addresses the mental health needs of elementary, middle, and high school students and of the teachers or staff who support them. This program has expanded since its inception to include individual and group art therapy at schools throughout the 53206 zip code under the BRICE program, also made possible by Marquette University. In further growth, Bloom’s own Director of Research, Dr. Emily Nolan, developed an arts-based professional development training course to better support school staff and the culture of their schools. These Culture Circle Studios create opportunities for reflection and inspire the participants to be agents of change within the systems they influence.
In the summer, Bloom is proud to host 14-17 year-old youth for a paid artist residency. This program is possible because of our partnership with the DHHS Department of Health and Human Services. The artists develop job skills in crafting a body of artwork to be sold at art markets to further increase their income. Youth learn about job expectations, planning and development, and gain access to art materials and a budget to produce artwork. The youth are guided by art therapists through their creative exploration and artist identity. Art therapists provide a safe, expressive space for youth during the long summer months. In partnership with DHHS’s Youth Employment Initiative, Bloom has been able to offer this successful and inspiring program since 2022.
In 2023, Bloom began expanding our services to older adults with the financial support of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the Wisconsin DHS Department of Health Services. Bloom is now offering 5 weekly community art studios at 5 senior centers around the city. Through this Aging Services program, we offer art therapy to older adults for individual art therapy sessions. We are also building a support group for caregivers while another group for their adult loved ones is held at the same time, all at Bloom.
We added a Partnership! Bloom is thrilled to announce an partnership with SWIM Scaling Wellness in Milwaukee where we have an additional Milwaukee location to receive our art therapy and counseling services, located at 831 N. 27th St, between Wells and State Streets. Here we offer individual and group art therapy and counseling with an emphasis on providing trauma-informed services to the neighboring community. What is so special about this location is the collaboration of partners who are passionate about providing wellness services and resources to local residents. Bloom will be able to refer our clients to other wellness opportunities like reiki, massage, acupuncture, breath-work and mindfulness all in this one location.
In addition to the emphasis on holistic self-care, we are looking forward to working alongside the Near West Side Partners who offer resources and Fruition members who will be creating in the maker’s space and co-working space. Through our partnership, we have introduced a new weekly community art therapy studio on Thursdays from 3:30-5:30. This group offering exemplifies how Bloom aims to creatively support the needs of our clients in order to access art therapy. This is facilitated by an art therapist and is always free to participants.
