The museum-based art education therapy project in New York's Chinatown: The exploration of ethnic identity and adaptation among Chinese immigrant youth through art

The purpose of this dissertation project was to examine the impact of an originally designed museum-based art education therapy program on foreign-born Chinese immigrant youth. The project explored the issues of ethnic identity and adaptation at a non-profit youth organization located in the neighborhood of New York's Chinatown.; The researcher designed, administered, and evaluated an innovative art therapy program that incorporated museum art appreciation and studio art making. This research program was implemented in conjunction with the English as Second Language program as an optional extracurricular activity. Nine adolescents, aged 15-20 years old, participated in the six-week program. The research took the form of a social action project. Qualitative and art-based research designs were used to assess the outcome of the project.; Results of this study indicated that positive interactions with peers through museum trips and studio art making significantly affected the process of adaptation of immigrant youth. The participants gained a better understanding of immigration history, explored and defined their ethnic identity, as well as improved their art and language learning. The researcher concluded that participation in a museum-based art education therapy program might advance the personal development and benefit the psychological well-being in an immigrant adolescent.