MANCHESTER, NH.- The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire, has launched a new program for those affected by the opioid crisis, which killed approximately 72,000 Americans in 2017. Called The Art of Hope, it aims to provide coping mechanisms for families through art. Nearly a quarter of the fatal drug overdoses in 2015 occurred in Manchester.

The Art of Hope is a first-of-its-kind program to help Granite Staters impacted by the opioid crisis and was created in conjunction with Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to help families struggling with addiction by providing positive experiences in the museum’s galleries. The program is free and open to all.

Based on a support model, this unique program is geared toward parents who have children suffering from a substance use disorder. Participants will receive training from educators to support their children’s recovery through love, listening, self-care, and the use of evidence-based skills to redirect a child’s motivations toward more positive behaviors. Participants will also have the opportunity to receive mentoring and advice from other parents who have already gone through the program and can share the success and challenges from their own personal experiences.

“Our goal is to leverage the art and environment of the Currier Museum to create a comforting safe space to help families impacted by the opioid crisis,” stated Alan Chong, Director of the Currier Museum. “We hope that this innovative combination of support with art will prove useful, and can ultimately be expanded to help families beyond New Hampshire.”