The Material Culture of Art Therapy: Less Is More

Abstract

This is a viewpoint shared by two art psychotherapy educators in the United Kingdom reducing their reliance on bought art materials within their professional training programs. They propose a reimagining and reuse of manufactured materials with an appreciation of regenerative practices. The material culture of art therapy typically endorses an accumulation of material resources rather than a reduced repertoire of choice. A new materialist pedagogy for art therapy recognizes the agency of materials and their volition and active participation within art therapy practice and education. The purpose of this shared commentary is to propose a new perspective on art therapy materials with an aim to reduce single-use consumption.