Study for Art Therapy and Counselling in Chicago

Hello, I am Winnie, a Hong-Kong-based artist with a social mission. I have a dream to drive positive social change through art in a sustainable manner.

From Banking to Painting

By the typical standard, I gave up a great career for an uncertain future. 'It's a good hobby, but you can just wait until your retirement to do this, my dear.'

By the Hong Kong's efficiency standard, I built a public art space which is considered too far from where I live - it's in an area called Chai Wan, about two hours away from where I live. A good joke is that I can fly to Taiwan faster than I go to Chai Wan everyday.

But it's all worth it. I truly enjoy what I am doing. I see the impact created by my work in the community.

'Trust me, I can make it work'.

Kids sneaking out from their tutorial class to see me and share their highlights of the day and became my loyal fans;

A rebellious teenager felt comfortable striking a creative conversation with me and told me he felt confident for the first time;

A grandma teared up and thank me for responding to her granddaughter's letters which held her together during struggling times.

They motivate me.

'Trust me, I will make it work'.

'The day when I appeared in a child's drawing - I knew I was empowered to make a positive impact with that trust.'

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Beginning from Scratch

I started my journey in the banking industry - a fantastic place where I learnt to become a person with exceptional design and organisational skills, excellent work ethics, and a strong mindset of perseverance.

Between my passion in art, my strengths in operationalising big idea, and my purpose to make a positive impact to the society, I developed a social art initiative, called Dialogue in Art, to help children, teenagers and adults make meaningful conversations through art-making, and explore and express authentic emotions in a safe and non-judgemental way.

I also made use of my expertise in Design Thinking, and applied the approach to the development of my social initiatives practically, bringing excellent results.

I'd like to share with you the stories from the work that I have already done:

^ Public art space thriving and serving people in need in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong

^ “Drawing to Strangers”, received 220+ mails from a neighbourhood community in Hong Kong

^ Inspiring adults to use art to reflect on self and group identity

^ “Art at Home” – bringing Dialogue in Art to home setting

^ Bringing expressive art and community appreciation to the local primary schools

^ Inspiring children to use our mother nature to create art that connect us with the world

^ Bringing imagination to life with Kindergarten students in Hong Kong

^ Sharing public on how artwork can be a wonderful vehicle to drive meaningful discussion - on recent political turmoil in Hong Kong

^ Promoting family communication with 15 families through abstract art with Yan Chai Hospital Group

^ Introducing art as a vehicle to express emotions to university students and the public

^ Inspire adults to reflect on their relationship with the world through setting up an installation art at the university campus

^ Connecting and expressing local culture through visual with 30+ children during Chinese New Year

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Creating a Sustainable Future

From helping underprivileged children with special educational needs strengthen their emotional wellbeing, to setting up a public art space to welcome open dialogues in the community through art-making, I strived to create solution for existing social challenge in an innovative, user-centred and responsive manner.

What can I do next? I have a vision to develop a non-profit-making, design-thinking-driven organisation to connect capable, passionate and visionary people globally to drive sustainable social change through art. To do that, I am determined to learn from the very best people in order to be able to contribute back to our world in a meaningful way.

'The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.'

One Step Closer

I am being offered a place at the renowned art school, which is also the most influential art school in the United States, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in fall 2019, to attend their three-year Master program in Art Therapy and Counseling, a critical and necessary step required to equip me to offer more for the world.

I am also the recipient for the highest merit scholarship, the New Artist Society Scholarship offered by the school, which will cover 50% of the tuition fee of the study, at the value of approximately USD 52,000.

My saving will be used to cover the living expenses and the cost of art supplies required in the upcoming three years of study in Chicago. I also plan to take up on-campus employment to subsidise my expenses.

The amount which I am raising fund for, would cover part of the remaining tuition fee, and also the basic operational expenses to continue some of the social art initiatives, including 'Drawing to Stranger', in Hong Kong, so that they can be sustained.

I truly appreciate your support and donation of any amount. Thank you very much for making it possible for me to continue the journey to create sustainable impact for the world through art.

Winnie

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Examples of my recent artwork (from Bud to Blossom Exhibition 2019)

https://www.flipsnack.com/AD9EEAE569B/winnie-wong-...

My social art initiative, Dialogue in Art

http://DialogueInArt.com

My artistic journey

http://www.WinnieWongArt.com

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(This GoGetFuning campaign is in USD. Cheque, Bank Transfer and other channel for payment are most welcome too. Drop me a note)