Efforts in Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Field of Art Therapy

Abstract

There is a clear need for greater diversity in the field of art therapy, with a particular need to increase the representation of racial and ethnic minorities in educational programs. In a sample of 16 art therapy program directors, strategies and barriers to recruitment were identified through an anonymous online survey. The results of the survey indicate that a majority of programs would like to increase racial and ethnic diversity, although less than half shared their current strategies for recruitment. Suggestions to develop recruitment and retention strategies of students of color are discussed, as well as future directions for serving racial and ethnic minority clients.

Acknowledgment

We are grateful to Carrie Aldrich and Tamara Buckley for their helpful feedback on this manuscript.