History
In late fall of 2000, PSA Art Awakenings was born out of PSA (People Service Action) Behavioral Health Agency, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization incorporated in 1971 whose mission is to enhance and empower the mental health community through creativity, innovation, and diversity. The brainchild of PSA Chief Executive Officer Sara Marriott, PSA Art Awakenings began as a consumer run business with funding from the Rehabilitation Services Administration and only four adult consumers creating and selling artwork.
Today the program is funded by Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care, Cenpatico, Community Partnership of Southern Arizona and Gila River Indian Community.
From its modest beginning, PSA Art Awakenings has grown into a significant psycho-social rehabilitation program with 13 studios and five galleries serving approximately 1,500 artists annually – all working toward empowerment and recovery through creativity.
With studios encompassing Cochise, Maricopa, La Paz, Pinal, Pima, and Yuma Counties, the PSA Art Awakenings reach has expanded by eight studios in recent years. We currently operate studios in Bisbee, Casa Grande, Douglas, two in Downtown Phoenix (including Warehouse 1005) the Maricopa Youth Studio, NW Phoenix , Tempe, Tucson, Warehouse 442 in Tucson, Parker and Yuma. In additional to our physical locations, regular off site therapeutic art groups are held in partner agencies in Sierra Vista, throughout Cochise County and locations throughout Maricopa County.
The Warehouse 1005 and Warehouse 442 are unique independent extensions of the PSA Art Awakenings’ family. These studios afford adult artists who have graduated from the program the opportunity to develop their artistic skills and maintain wellness at a more independent level of self-sufficiency.
