AFRATAPEM - Ecole d’Art-thérapie de Tours
School of Arts Therapy
3 rue Calmette – 37540 St Cyr/Loire
FRANCE
Tél. +33 (0)2 47 51 86 20
Fax +33 (0)2 47 51 76 23
Newsletter
The Lettre de l’Art Thérapeute Newsletter is published once a year. It gives the latest News from the Tours School of Arts Therapy, Arts Therapy in General, the latest Research into Arts Therapy, Arts Therapists, contact information and upcoming events ( exhibitions, shows, conferences…)
To join the AFRATAPEM for an annual membership fee of 18.30€ and receive, by post, the Newsletter, please contact :
AFRATAPEM : 3 rue
Calmette 37540 Saint Cyr Sur Loire, France
Tel : +33 (0)2 47 51
86 20
Fax : +33 (0)2 47 51
76 23
E-mail : afratapem@wanadoo.fr
Extracts
Lettre de l’Art Thérapeute June 2007 – Editorial
The distinction between the speciality and
the discipline has been established. Art Therapy will no longer be confused
with Psychotherapy or Psychomotricité
(a branch of Physiotherapy based on motor skills). This difference will soon be a source of enrichment.
At the origin of this
difference : the AFRATAPEM, who
wishes to see Arts Therapy recognised as a therapeutic discipline and Health
profession in it’s own right.
But there is still work left to do : Harmonising practice at the same time as
recognising individuality, offering a High standard of teaching, recognised by
the Scientific establishment, drawing-up a professional Code of Conduct and
much more…
And whilst doing this, approaching
Arts Therapy not as a Historian, nor as a Psychologist or a Philosopher, but as
an Arts Therapist.
Lettre de l’Art Thérapeute Nov 2005 – Editorial
2006 : A year of Birthdays : The AFRATAPEM is 30, the University Diploma in Arts Therapy is 20 and, the cherry on the cake : the 500th Dissertation will be handed-in.
In 1976, Arts Therapy was simply a
sub-sector of Psychiatry. But by 1986, the AFRATAPEM and the Faculty of
Medecine, Tours organised the first Diploma in Arts Therapy in France. Paris
still resisted Arts Therapy, even using the word was
avoided.
After 30 years of hard work, the Profession
and the Job title are now fully established :
Arts Therapy. Even Paris accepts them…Nowadays, Arts Therapy no longer invokes
fear, even in… !
The latest additions :
University Diploma in Arts Therapy Course, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Poitiers, University Diploma, Brussels…
See you in 30 years’ time.
Lettre de l’Art Thérapeute April 2004 – Editorial
Finally.
Arts Therapist or Psychotherapist ?
Yes, you will have to choose.
The proposal for a Law on the practice of Psychotherapy will be beneficial for Arts Therapy. Both the fundamental concepts as well as the theoretical and methodological approaches of Arts Therapy will finally be developed and will reinforce an original and specific profession.
As a result, Aesthetics, which have been sidelined by practitioners of Psychotherapy who use the Arts, will take centre stage. Will the Arts will finally be at the centre of Arts Therapy ?
There remains, however, a certain amount of ambiguity. Should humanity be at the service of the Arts (with impressive exhibitions) or the Arts be at the service of humanity (patient expression) ?
Another confusion remains : that between the Arts workshop and Arts Therapy. In any case, at least the Arts will play a pivotal role in the field of Healthcare.
A fundamental change will at last be able to take place.
Lettre de l’Art Thérapeute Feb 2003 – Editorial
The term ‘Arts Therapy’ seems to be increasingly used in the healthcare field.
A source of strength comes from its novelty value, for some, it is more appropriate, for others, it’s more lucrative, this term is often an attractive proposition. But, beware ! Don’t get taken onboard. Associations, Institutes, private Organisations are governed by strict rules that are difficult for ‘amateurs’ to follow. A student has rules and obligations, so does a Training Organisation.
If a Course calls itself a Professional training Course, then it must provide precise and legally binding contracts. Do not mistake simple information for good training. Demand clear theories and professional practice which can be validated and above all are comprehensible.
Still, too many are lured in by ‘airy-fairy’ rhetoric : «pleasure and creation » and 3 more customers.
It’s not because Arts Therapy course produces scientific babble that everything is to be believed.
Lettre de l’Art Thérapeute Sep 2001 – Editorial
The debate instigated by the AFRATAPEM seems to have finally raised awareness about the fundamental question in Arts Therapy : The Arts.
There will always be banal ideas at the forefront, such as « Art is subjective », or « Art is Creation », because of an absence of any precise definition, anything is possible. Anything at all.
For example, a session of Psychiatry on stage, in front of an audience which becomes Theatre, or an banal idea which becomes an Artistic Expression, the noise of a urinal which becomes Music. These are certainly new artistic forms, products of the « genius » of their authors. But where is the Art ?
It is evident that Arts Therapy is allowing us to reconsider the essential concept of Art – that is to say : Aesthetics.
However, reconsidering does not mean starting from scratch. It is a great shame that under the pretext of « genial works », basic knowledge is now absent. Where are you now, Plato, Kant, Vasari, Hegel and other great thinkers on the subject of the Arts ? The Artistic productions that you evoke in your reflexions bear a strange similarity to those produced by our current-day geniuses. You do not, however, arrive at the same conclusions. Would you, the elders, be so bold in your ramblings?
The absence of even a minimum of basic knowledge gives rise to all these ‘innovative’ arguments and theories and to the the Artist’s assumption of his/her own Genius. And (do I dare) « If the Work of Art was actually about Art ? » ; Even worse : « Could there actually be any bad artists ? »
Lettre de l’Art Thérapeute Feb 2001 – Editorial
The distinction between Arts Therapy and
Psychotherapy seems to be growing, the profession of Psychomotricité (a branch of Physiotherapy based on motor skills) seems
to be developing, at the same time, a surreptitious
exploitation of Art is taking place. Certain people confuse the following : form , expressive activity, physical
implications, life history and Aesthetics. Using the catchphrase « pleasure and
creativity », manifold therapeutic activities, some of which seem slightly
dubious, make an appearance. Only one thing is certain :
The price.
And where is Arts Therapy in all this ? Leave the researchers the time to research and
the finders the time to find. In this way the spirit of research, of rigour,
and open-mindedness which is behind such organisations as the Société Internationale de Psychopathologie
et de l’Expression d’Art Thérapie acts as a benchmark and a symbol of
trustworthiness.
Lets do as Psychotherapists do : a job title -
a skill - an official recognition
- a valid qualification.
Lettre de l’Art Thérapeute Feb 2000 – Editorial
Finally, a specific field of activity for Arts Therapists.
While the AFRATAPEM and, most certainly
others, have been trying for many years to make it understood that associating
Arts Therapy with Psychotherapy is harmful for the former, it seems that
finally, the distinction is starting to be made, as can be confirmed by our
Conference or the Newsletter of the Société
Internationale de Psychopathologie et de l’Expression d’Art Thérapie.
However, there is another threat to Arts Therapy : assimilating it with Occupational Therapy.
The concept of Art requires consideration as a means of aesthetic expression.
Considering Art, at its basic level, as a simple generalised expressive form limits it once again to a state of imprecision, discounting any Scientific analysis due to an absence of any determined field – that is when Arts Therapy leaves Psychotherapy to join Occupational therapy. Let us hope that the lesson is learned and that, finally, Arts Therapy becomes a specific Therapy in its own right, fully integrated into the Health Care team.
Membership form 2007
Members receive the Arts Therapy Newsletter as well as any other relevant information on the subject of Arts Therapy appearing during the course of the year.
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Please enclose an International Money Order made out to the AFRATAPEM for 18€30 and send with this coupon to :
AFRATAPEM
3 rue Calmette, 37540 Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, France