Healing Arts Festival Slated for June 11

SPRINGFIELD — The Center for Human Development (CHD), NAI Plotkin, and One Financial Plaza will present the second annual Healing Arts Festival on Wednesday, June 11. The Healing Arts Festival — which features live music, artwork, food, and crafts — was designed to promote the use of visual and performing arts as an avenue of expression, incorporating the arts in the struggle to overcome addiction, mental-health issues, developmental disabilities, or other challenges that many face. This year the festival will also include other healing modalities, such as yoga, reiki, and massage. “Art and music offer an avenue for expression that’s invaluable to our clients,” said Jim Goodwin, president and CEO of the Center for Human Development. “It is often difficult for them to put their experiences into words. Art and music offer them another way to explore their experiences. We are excited to share their work with the public.” The Healing Arts Festival will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at One Financial Plaza in Springfield. The event is co-sponsored by Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Plotkin and CDH board chair. “This event will help highlight the vitally important work CHD provides to the local community, while also celebrating the arts in Springfield,” he said. “NAI Plotkin is proud to be able to provide the space for this event and showcase the varied ways art can help people heal.” This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.cdh.org.