The Creative Center

The Creative Center Dedicated to bringing the creative arts to people living with cancer, chronic illness, caregivers and older adults.

Join us as we celebrate the voices of our writing community!The Creative Center invites you to Speyer Hall at University...
07/14/2026

Join us as we celebrate the voices of our writing community!

The Creative Center invites you to Speyer Hall at University Settlement (or online via Zoom with closed captions available) for an evening of short stories written in or inspired by our Art Workshop Program.

This is a special gathering for our community to come together, connect, and support one another as we celebrate the creativity and courage of our participants. It's also a chance to find inspiration to join a workshop yourself alongside our talented instructors and storytellers.

Bring a friend, bring family, and come share in the power of story with us!

RSVP today, and reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

Reading Our Writing, Sharing Our Stories with The Creative Center
Monday, July 27th from 5:00–8:00 pm
In-person and virtual
184 Eldridge Street I Speyer Hall

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/4fjXal7

Interested in becoming a community member? Register here: https://bit.ly/479RAMU See less

Humanity at the core ✨🌏We just got back from Athens, where we joined the 2026 SNF Nostos Conference at the Stavros Niarc...
07/07/2026

Humanity at the core ✨🌏

We just got back from Athens, where we joined the 2026 SNF Nostos Conference at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center to demonstrate what humanity looks like with creativity at the center!

The TCC team led a series of Abayomi doll-making workshops, using beautiful up-cycled textiles sourced through our partner Materials for the Arts here in NYC.

The non-verbal communication that took place during the workshops was an important reminder that art is itself a language, one that carries meaning and connection across cultures.

The Greek word for doll is κούκλα (koúkla). It’s also used as a term of endearment or a loving nickname for a child. It felt like the perfect word for a group of people making something with love and care.

Abayomi dolls come from African and Afro-Brazilian tradition, and every one is different by design. The tactile nature of doll-making is grounding, especially with unique materials that traveled all the way from an NYC reuse warehouse to a workshop table in Athens.

So grateful to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for having us, and to Materials for the Arts for helping us bring sustainability across the ocean.

😊😊 Joy is the best medicine!This gentle and uplifting workshop uses laughter yoga, breath-work, music, self-expression (...
06/23/2026

😊😊 Joy is the best medicine!

This gentle and uplifting workshop uses laughter yoga, breath-work, music, self-expression (dance) and playful creative laughter exercises to help participants relax, express themselves, and reconnect with joy intentionally.

The session is designed to be accessible for individuals living with cancer or chronic illness and emphasizes comfort, connection, and self-expression without having to say much. Participants will leave with measurable difference in stress levels, increased wellness and perceived connection with others.

Unlock Your Creativity Through Laughter Yoga
Sahadeo Ramharrack
In-person @ 184 Eldridge Street
Fridays, July 10, 17 & 24
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

Community members can register here: https://bit.ly/4egfYT4

Interested in becoming a community member? Register here: https://bit.ly/479RAMU

😊😊 Joy is the best medicine!This gentle and uplifting workshop uses laughter yoga, breath-work, music, self-expression (...
06/23/2026

😊😊 Joy is the best medicine!

This gentle and uplifting workshop uses laughter yoga, breath-work, music, self-expression (dance) and playful creative laughter exercises to help participants relax, express themselves, and reconnect with joy intentionally.

The session is designed to be accessible for individuals living with cancer or chronic illness and emphasizes comfort, connection, and self-expression without having to say much. Participants will leave with measurable difference in stress levels, increased wellness and perceived connection with others.

Unlock Your Creativity Through Laughter Yoga
Sahadeo Ramharrack
In-person @ 184 Eldridge Street
Fridays, July 10, 17 & 24
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

Community members can register at link in bio.

Interested in becoming a community member? Register at link in bio.

What memory wants to become a story?📚"Memory, Meaning, and Connection" is a virtual creative memoir workshop designed to...
06/18/2026

What memory wants to become a story?📚

"Memory, Meaning, and Connection" is a virtual creative memoir workshop designed to help participants explore personal memories through writing, reflection, and storytelling.

Each stand-alone session focuses on a different theme—including meaningful moments, influential people, cherished places, and long-loved traditions. Suitable for writers of all experience levels, the workshop encourages participants to discover and share the stories that matter most to them.

Memory, Meaning, and ConnectionCarla Briscoe
Virtual on ZOOM
Tuesdays, July 7, 14, 21 & 28
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST

Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Community members can register here: https://bit.ly/4fSvu91

Interested in becoming a community member? Register here: https://bit.ly/479RAMU

What would it look like to map your own resilience? 🗺Join us for The Journey Within: Mapping Strength, Self-Care, and Re...
06/01/2026

What would it look like to map your own resilience? 🗺

Join us for The Journey Within: Mapping Strength, Self-Care, and Resilience, a three-part art therapy series exploring identity, emotional expression, and connection through guided art-making.

Living with cancer or chronic illness, whether personally or as a caregiver, means carrying a lot. Uncertainty. Grief. Role changes. This series creates space to put some of these challenges down on paper, and to discover, through the creative process, the strength and resources already within you.

Through guided art directives, you will have the opportunity to:
• Externalize experiences that are hard to put into words
• Strengthen self-awareness and self-reflection
• Explore coping resources and practices of self-care
• Connect with others who understand what you are navigating

Thursdays, June 11, 18 & 25
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
184 Eldridge Street Art Room

Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

Community members can register here: https://bit.ly/4vgUJGb

Interested in becoming a community member? Register here: https://bit.ly/479RAMU

This June, The Creative Center will travel to Athens, Greece to participate in SNF NOSTOS 2026! 🌍 ✨ ⚡ Hosted by the Sta...
04/21/2026

This June, The Creative Center will travel to Athens, Greece to participate in SNF NOSTOS 2026! 🌍 ✨ ⚡

Hosted by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), this weeklong, multidimensional festival is a leading global forum that unites intellectual discourse with a vibrant public celebration of the arts. It is also a celebration of The Creative Center's pivotal partnership with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), whose visionary support has been instrumental in the growth and sustainability of our Hospital Artist-in-Residence program.

Our very own Sheila Fontanive, Liz Rubel, and Artist-in-Residence Cibele Vieira, will lead the transformative workshop: Reimagined Threads: Crafting Abayomi Dolls from Upcycled Textiles, where festival participants will create dolls together while exploring creativity as a pathway to well-being.

This invitation to the global stage is a testament to the strength of our community and to the depth of SNF’s belief in our work. As we travel to Athens, we carry with us the creative force of our wonderful participants and the gratitude of a program empowered by a partner who truly sees the value of creative expression.

Stay tuned for more updates from Athens as The Creative Center shares its approach with the world!

Fall 2026 Open Call for Teaching Artists!Help us reimagine our community workshops. We want your most innovative, access...
04/06/2026

Fall 2026 Open Call for Teaching Artists!

Help us reimagine our community workshops. We want your most innovative, accessible, and inclusive workshop designs for our vibrant community at The Creative Center at University Settlement.

Apply here: https://bit.ly/4dt6mo9

A wonderful opportunity to present a new standard for dementia-care communities!At the 1st Annual CaringKind () Dementia...
03/31/2026

A wonderful opportunity to present a new standard for dementia-care communities!

At the 1st Annual CaringKind () Dementia Education Conference, Sheila Fontanive, LCAT, ATR-BC, Director of The Creative Center, highlighted the clinical efficacy of multidisciplinary, evidence-based arts programming within the dementia care continuum.

Participating in the panel, "Creating Connection: Models for Dementia-Attuned Community Programming," the session demonstrated how systemic strategies like The Memory Café, Dementia Friends NY and Memory Matters translate into person-centered interventions.

The Creative Center remains committed to advocating for specialized, creative arts programming as a central standard of care in aging, wellness, and community health spaces.

Something powerful happens when we move out of our heads and into our hands.This week, The Creative Center at University...
03/27/2026

Something powerful happens when we move out of our heads and into our hands.

This week, The Creative Center at University Settlement had the privilege to participate in NYU's Revitalize Wellness Summit for Healthcare Professionals and be part of the important conversation on redefining wellbeing and person-centered care in clinical spaces and the broader community.

In our workshop, "Reimagined Threads: Crafting Abayomi Dolls from Up-cycled Textiles," Director Sheila Fontanive and Artist-in-Residence Cibele Vieira demonstrated how creative practice fosters resilience and self-regulation. Participants explored how these tactile figures serve as powerful symbols of agency and interpersonal connection in a clinical setting.

Sincere thanks to NYU's Department of Integrative Health team for inviting us to this transformative event. By prioritizing human-centered care and the arts, we build a more resilient healthcare environment for everyone!

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Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

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