A core tenet of our work through Onslow Originals is that the arts are instrumental in creating a healthy, resilient, and connected community.

With your support, our entire community can continue to access beneficial and quality art programming free of charge. Funds raised here will allow for more diverse programming and basically double our offerings in 2024!

Quick facts about our organization:

We invested first! Our founder & executive director, Anna Pasquale, and her husband, a retired USMC Veteran, donated $1,000 to purchase supplies for our monthly art studios and The M.A.G., our military art program. Since then, our board members, community partners, area businesses, and members of the community have all donated to our organization.
We are a mobile art program which means we can offer art-making experiences in multiple locations through our connections with other community organizations. Look for our new location in Jan 2024!
Our programming is 100% free for the community.
We have art programming tailored to the needs and experiences of our military community.
Our executive director and board members are all volunteers.
Our board includes a licensed clinical social worker and several creative arts therapists with experience working with military and civilian populations.
Our executive director and board members all work remotely, gathering in person for meetings and needed training.

Our Mission:

"To build awareness, support, and unite the military, civilian, and art communities of Onslow County and the surrounding areas through increased access to the benefits of individual and community wellness inherently found in arts engagement."

Why Art?

Art is a tool used to:

Decrease social isolation/increase social connectedness
Support successful adaptations to life changes
Cultivate a life-long pursuit of creative expression
Develop a healthy leisure activity/leisure skills
Provide relaxation and over all sense of calm through FLOW state (a concept describing moments when a person is totally immersed in an activity.)

For more information we recommend this American Medical Association interview with Frank Clark, MD about the "well-being benefits of practicing art".

Art + Wellness + Community

Combining art, wellness, and community is a powerful way to create a healthy, resilient, and connected community.

Art:

Creating art is a healthy recreational activity that allows everyone to express themselves and learn new skills. Participants in our programs, regardless of their skill level or experience with art making, can enjoy the many benefits of creating.

Art is for everyone!

Wellness:

We want our community that works, lives, and plays in our area to be well here, too. Consistently participating in arts engagement helps our community better navigate life changes, improve their mental well-being, and support better physical health by reducing stress.

Community:

Providing a way for individuals to gather, create, and form connections in our community is a powerful way to combat isolation and improve quality of life. Individuals connect with themselves and others, and families develop deeper connections.

Why Art for the Military Community?

Our military community needs the benefits that art-making provides in a program tailored to their experiences.

The M.A.G. (The Military Art Group) is a way for our military service members, their loved ones, and caregivers to access the therapeutic benefits of art as they connect with others who understand the unique challenges and experiences of serving our country.

Our executive director, the military spouse of a USMC Retired Veteran, facilitates The M.A.G. The board of Onslow Originals includes creative arts therapists and a licensed clinical social worker with experience working with the military population.

Our Programs:

Currently:

We provide free community arts engagement opportunities crafted to offer the therapeutic benefits of art to everyone, regardless of experience or skill level.

Our military art program, The M.A.G., is free and open to all military service members, their loved ones, and caregivers. Military service members can be from any branch of the armed forces and any duty status.

We offer programming in community spaces like the Onslow County Public Library and the Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope for the Warriors and spaces provided by fantastic locally-owned businesses like Blend Café, for which we are incredibly thankful.

In The Future:

Our organization has achieved a lot with limited resources in the first few months of operation, leading to an increase in our numbers! Thankfully, our ongoing collaboration with community partners has created opportunities that will help us achieve our objective of broadening and diversifying our programs in 2024.

With your support, together we can enhance lives through the powerful benefits of art!

Holiday Giving Season

Support Wellness Through Art!