Art for a Cause

Art for a Cause is a collaborative community program that brings together creativity, compassion, and public health to support individuals and families affected by substance-related loss.

Through guided art workshops, community members create meaningful pieces—cards, butterflies, memorial items, and installations—that serve as visible symbols of care, remembrance, and hope. Each project is designed to foster connection, reduce stigma, and remind those impacted by loss that they are seen and supported.

Why Art for a Cause?

Substance use disorder affects individuals, families, and entire communities. For those who have lost a loved one, grief is often compounded by silence and stigma.

Art for a Cause offers a different approach.

By using art as a shared language, this program:

• Encourages empathy and understanding

• Normalizes community support for those experiencing loss

• Creates space for reflection, remembrance, and healing

• Integrates education and awareness in an accessible, human-centered way

The art created through this program becomes a tangible expression of solidarity—simple acts that carry deep meaning.

How the Program Works

Art for a Cause consists of monthly, instructor-led workshops that are open to the community. Participants engage in hands-on art projects designed to be approachable, reflective, and meaningful—no prior art experience required.

Projects may include:

• Cards for a Cause – handmade sympathy cards distributed to families who have experienced substance-related loss

• Origami Butterfly Projects – symbols of transformation that may become part of future community art installations

• Memorial and Remembrance Pieces – including pressed flower vigils and memory ornaments

Completed artwork is thoughtfully distributed or displayed through Waukesha County Health & Human Services programming and community awareness efforts.

Who Can Participate?

Art for a Cause workshops are:

• Open to adults of all ages

• Especially welcoming to older adults and seniors

• Designed for individuals who enjoy creating, connecting, and contributing to their community

Participants do not need personal experience with substance-related loss to take part—many attend simply to offer support through creative action.

A Partnership Rooted in Community

Art for a Cause is a partnership between Waukesha County Health & Human Services and the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, blending public health leadership with the transformative power of the arts.

Together, the partnership seeks to:

• Reduce stigma surrounding substance use disorders

• Expand community-based prevention and education efforts

• Explore new ways art can support healing and awareness

• Build sustainable, meaningful collaborations across sectors

Looking Ahead

Art for a Cause is a pilot initiative with plans to grow and evolve over time. Feedback, participation, and community response will help shape future projects, installations, and outreach opportunities.

Whether you are creating art, honoring a loved one, or simply standing in solidarity with others, Art for a Cause invites you to be part of something meaningful.