3 minute read
See What's Happening at STEP
PASC’s Impact Reaches Beyond the Studio
BY CHLOÉ HAJJAR
The Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC) is the first progressive art studio, gallery, and exhibition program in Detroit and Wayne County dedicated to supporting artists with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. Founded in January 2021 as a program of Services To Enhance Potential (STEP), PASC stands as a beacon of inclusion, empowerment, and artistic expression. Its mission is to advance independent artistic practices and build career paths in the art and design fields, demonstrating how innovation and limitless creativity can break down barriers and open new possibilities. Through the transformative act of creation, PASC fosters artistic growth, community engagement, and improved mental health outcomes.
At its core, PASC champions self-advocacy by uplifting each artist’s unique ideas and goals. By working together to support creative breakthroughs, the collective fosters personal empowerment and artistic evolution. The PASC staff utilize a dynamic blend of verbal and nonverbal communication styles, tailoring creative tools to meet each artist’s needs. Whether guiding conceptual discussions, building confidence and comfort, assisting with materials, or reimagining workspaces, the team prioritizes each artist’s vision and independence. These personalized strategies nurture self-actualization, allowing artists to shape their own paths and careers within their craft.
Over the last year, PASC has achieved significant milestones in its mission to uplift and advocate for artists with developmental disabilities and/or mental health challenges. It launched Detroit’s first art gallery dedicated to artists with disabilities, secured the accession of fifteen PASC artworks into Cranbrook Art Museum’s collection, and made its debut at Miami Art Week, participating in The Open Invitational, the first art fair dedicated to studios and galleries for artists with disabilities. Additionally, 31 PASC artists were presented by White Columns Gallery at the New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) art fair in Miami.
These achievements are particularly significant as we celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, since many of our artists are on the autism spectrum. PASC’s program underscores the importance of embracing neurodiversity and amplifying all artists’ voices in the cultural landscape. By celebrating and platforming this artwork with the highest standards, PASC elevates these voices within our local community and nationally, and we reinforce the power, value and importance of displaying underrepresented perspectives in contemporary art and beyond.
PASC’s impact reaches beyond the studio—it is a movement that challenges perceptions, redefines inclusion, and proves that creativity is universal.
