ARTREHUB is a volunteer-based initiative which provides psychological rehabilitation in a group setting for those who have suffered trauma, primarily during the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The art therapy practice at ARTREHUB is built around the "Red Thread Technique," a means of enhancing connectedness, which was developed by the project's founder, Zinaida Kubar.

Zinaida believes that today's artist has an obligation to be socially oriented. Russia's military aggression against Ukraine in 2014 intensified her belief and prompted her to found ARTREHUB, as a response to an urgent need.
Focus
We see art as a tool for working with society: the formation and development of a citizen, his self-expression, overcoming blocks and complexes, finding and identifying oneself.
Aid
We are a voluntary initiative that aims to help the psychological rehabilitation of citizens with the use of special artistic techniques.
Values
We respect and explore the heritage of generations of Ukrainian people: empirical experience, wisdom, energy of symbols.
Our mission is to help people who faced difficult life situations (war, illnesses, loss of loved ones, accidents or physical abuse) psychologically recover by means of art rehabilitation sessions. Currently, ARTREHUB affords priority to veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The art rehabilitation we practice is designed specifically to help the veterans' process of psychological healing, and to address some of the negative effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Our goals

  • 1
    Stimulate and support the process of rehabilitation of war veterans, and ease their return to active social life.
  • 2
    Advance the development of art therapy in Ukraine.
  • 3
    Import best global practices of art rehabilitation activities to Ukraine, and apply Ukraine's experience where it might help others.
  • 4
    Promote the "Red Thread Technique" method.
  • 5
    Popularization of Ukrainian culture.

"Red Thread Technique"

The art rehabilitation method developed by the Zinaida Kubar is called the "Red Thread Technique," because the red thread is a symbol of life, love and hope, and it is a bond between those who most need help, and those who give it. "Red thread" is analogous to, and evocative of blood vessels, which carry life energy throughout all body parts of the human body and link them into a single organism. It also allows our heart to «beat» in the rhythm of life and resonate with the hearts of others.
This method grew out of Zinaida's personal art practices, and her exploration of what is common throughout Ukrainian culture combined with folk handicraft practices. Symbols have long been a part of Zinaida's art and played a central role in her expression of timeless human qualities. Zinaida's ethnographic journey of discovery made her clearly understand that interaction with sacraed archaic signs in the creative process had a healing effect on the inner state of the modern human.
"Symbols are seen in everything, they are universal. Symbols encode the images we are working with in our minds and souls. There are many methods in art rehabilitation. But I decided to use my own experience and knowledge, in particular what I have personally tried and checked myself, so I know the way it works, fulfills, activates and draws you in meditation which finally allows in-depth healing to begin", – Zinaida Kubar.
The "Red Thread Technique" rehabilitation courses were created for both children and adults. Every session can be conducted within an expanded course and/or separately as a single session too. The sessions are lead by the Art Team, which consists of two coaches: a psychologist and an artist. They complete Zinaida's training course, which also involves practice-sessions before they can earn a certificate which allows to independetly conduct sessions using the "Red Thread Technique" method.
The "Red Thread Technique" rehabilitation courses were created for both children and adults. Every session can be conducted within an expanded course and/or separately as a single session too. The sessions are lead by the Art Team, which consists of two coaches: a psychologist and an artist. They complete Zinaida's training course, which also involves practice-sessions before they can earn a certificate which allows to independetly conduct sessions using the "Red Thread Technique" method.

History

Zinaida's art is deeply-rooted into Ukrainian culture. For more than 10 years she has been studying its rituals, folklore and applied arts elements. In her own art zinaida.studio, she elaborates and unveils the beauty and rich spiritual heritage of the Ukrainian nation.

The history of the method development takes its roots in family circle of the artist. In order to entertain her children, Zinaida initially built various activities for them, based on her art practice. Her children's positive response encouraged Zinaida to adapt these art sessions for kids suffering from autism at the "Rivnovaga" center. Five months of hard, yet productive work allowed her to differentiate the best and most effective practices for participants with special needs. Soon after, Zinaida began working with Center for Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support to provide art rehabilitation to veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war. After a year's practical work there, Zinaida began identifying best practices for work with veterans as well. At the same time, she delivered therapy session for hospitalized children. Across this range of experiences, Zinaida managed to develop a unique art rehabilitation method, and develop a series of sessions that work well with one another in a consecutive course. With the method developed, Zinaida began recruiting coaches to help her serve those in need.

Meeting like-minded people who share the desire to spread art-rehabilitation practice, especially in terms of arranging therapy sessions with veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war, is what makes up the heart of the non-profit organization 'ArtRehub'.

Feedbacks and works of participants

  • Thank you. You spend your time achieving results. Like an eye doctor, you open my eyes to the new, bright pages of life, and helped me get out of the darkness. Your method has helped me a lot to change after the horrible war, Zinaida. That's why I am devotedly grateful to you.
    Taras, Obukhov, 36 years old
    Participant of the military actions
  • I have never worked with the national symbols. What I get for the first time is how they are really striking. It is not merely a painting - it conveys the energy, the power, and the essence of what I am feeling.
    These classes have become a great discovery for me. I have encountered various kinds of art-therapy, but I've never felt such a great power.
    Natalka, Kyiv, 38 years old
    Military volunteer
  • Thank you for your help! After art therapy sessions, some of my issues were resolved! I felt offended by one person but after I took part in the sessions I finally was relieved and my life became better. This resentment used to be a real burden for me. I appreciate that you and other volunteers and psychologists visit the hospital and support me. I now feel that it was not in vain to go to the war.
    Dmytro, Kahovka, 33 years old
    Participant of the military actions
  • I have submerged myself into the condition of calm alertness. This is what we are lacking in our life.
    Serhii, Belaya Tserva, 42 years old
    Participant of the military actions
  • Zinaida
    Artists, the author of art rehabilitation method
  • Oksana Nechyporenko
    Consultant in project development and fund-raising
  • Evhenia Tomashevska
    Psychologist, art-therapist, art rehabilitation coach
  • Olena Khomyakova
    Artists, art rehabilitation coach
  • Tetyana Niks
    Artist, art rehabilitation coach
  • Ganna Zolotar
    Psychologist, art-therapist, art rehabilitation coach
  • Nataliya Prilutskaya
    Artist, art rehabilitation coach
  • Alina Kokoshko
    Psychologist, art rehabilitation coach
  • Tamara Shevchuk
    Artists, art rehabilitation coach
  • Maria Prostak
    Artist, art rehabilitation coach

We receive assistance from

  • Masi Nayem
    Legal adviser
  • Andriy Kozinchuk
    Military psychologist
  • Andriy Didyk
    Massage therapy consultant
  • Yuriy Melnychuk
    Ethnographer, master craftsman in embroidery
  • Olga Bezklynska
    Music therapist, the head of All-Ukrainian Public Organization "Music Therapy Association"

News

Contact us

9/11 Igor Broniewicki street, Kyiv, Ukraine
Please connect with us, here are several ways to do so:
- support the project financially or in any other way,
- host sessions at your venue,
- become a trainer of art rehabilitation sessions,
- ask us, please, anything about this much-needed practice!

We are open to a range of collaborations.
Participants
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