Do
you
have
something
to
contribute?
Please
send
us
poetry,
audio
files,
short
writing,
A.R.T.S.-
related
stories,
images
of
your
art
(in
jpg.)! Those
who
submit
work
retain
their
copyright,
and
a
copyright
statement
is
included
by
request.
Email
the
editors
at newsletter@artsanonymous.org
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Announcements
Meeting
Contributions!: Thank
you to the
following
meetings for
honoring the
7th Tradition
to keep
A.R.T.S.
self-supporting:
Culver City
A.R.T.S. -
$101.71 - in
September
Action and
Accountability
- $10.61 -
in September
Walk
and Talk -
$60.00 - in
October
Action and
Accountability
- $10.61 -
in October
London
Meeting -
$160.00 - in
October
A.R.T.S.
Dublin -
$3.40 - in
October
Culver City
A.R.T.S. -
$57.00 - in
November
Financial
Management
Statement: The
Financial
Statement
for January
through
September of
2025 is
posted on
the
website. For
questions,
email officemanager@artsanonymous.org
Links to the
Full
Treasurer’s
Reports for
September
and October
2025: [ September
2025 l
October 2025]
A.R.T.S. had
a loss of
$13.80 in
September
A.R.T.S. had
a loss of
$464.03 in
October
The
Board of
Trustees is
holding
Strategy
Planning
sessions to
determine
priorities
for
A.R.T.S.
Services. A.R.T.S.
collects no
dues or fees
for
participating,
but there
are expenses
for the
website,
online
software,
rent, and
staffing.
Links and
instructions
for making
contributions
are provided
on the Donate
page of
the
artsanonymous.org
website.
Thank you
for your
help in
support of
A.R.T.S.
The
A.R.T.S.
World
Service
Conference
is coming in
January: The
dates of the
World
Service
Conference
are January
10, 11 and
17, 2026 –
held
virtually
Meetings
send their
representatives
(Meeting
Delegates
and
Alternate
Delegates)
to the
Conference
to discuss
and decide
on issues
for World
Services.
Here is the Agenda. The
link to sign
up will be
available
soon.
Fall Sharathon: Saturday, December
6 beginning at
10 am PT/1
pm ET. Link for
Details and
to Register (flyer
and details
later in
this
newsletter)
__________________________
Meeting
Update:
Meeting Name
Change: The
“Step Study
Meeting and
ArtShare” on
Thursdays is
now called
the “Step
Study
Meeting and
Five Alive”.
It runs from
1:00 pm –
2:30 pm ET
on
Thursdays.
__________________________
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The
Enormity of
My
Creativity
Essay by
Margaret K.
There are an
overwhelming
number of
examples of
how artistic
expression
can be
considered
essential to
our
existence as
human
beings. The
creative
impulse is
as old and
pervasive as
all of human
history.
Every tribe,
race,
culture and
civilization
has
distinguished
itself by
its creative
output.
Paintings on
cave walls,
open places
of worship
and
celebration,
soaring
structures
reaching for
the heavens,
fibers woven
into
garments;
all inspired
by a natural
creative
impulse.
Beauty,
status,
protection
and function
are strong
incentives
for creating
almost
anything
ever made by
mankind. Yet
it is the
unique
contribution
of each
maker,
designer,
writer, and
performer
that brings
the spirit
of whole
eras and
movements to
life. Time
and time
again, many
of us have
found
ourselves in
awe at what
has been
created in
the past.
Through all
the
greatness
and falls of
civilizations,
the
desperation
of wars and
genocide,
the
expansion of
exploration
and the
oppression
of regimes,
human
creative
life and
spirit
continues
its pulse.
In the
face of this
enormity, I
discover the
powerlessness
I feel over
my
creativity.
A
spontaneous
response to
a vision or
moment
arrives with
the beauty
of a life
force that
cannot be
muted or
broken. I
cannot fight
off the
natural
creative
impulse any
more than I
can deny my
own
humanity.
The
possibility
of
expressing
myself
through my
creative
gifts and
talents may
seem
overwhelming,
but it
reveals a
path to a
life that is
joyful,
rewarding,
and rich.
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Six
Pack
. “Six
Pack” by
Ilona F. (c)
2025 Ilona
F. Mixed
media
(colored
pencil, ink,
paint
marker)
A
reproduction
is part of
an outdoor
art
installation
in Needham
MA (USA)
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Yes,
the
A.R.T.S.
Website went
down...
Some of you
may have
noticed or
heard that
the website
went down
earlier this
month for
about four
days.
Due to a
sudden death
in the
family,
the Board
member who
doubles as
the A.R.T.S.
Treasurer
was unable
to keep
track of the
timing of a
payment that
needed to be
made to keep
the domain
name active.
What this is
saying is
that
A.R.T.S.
needs help
with its
World
Services. A
trusted
servant to
track
expenses and
bills,
create
budgets and
reports, and
lead in the
financial
affairs of
A.R.T.S.
would help
prevent such
problems
when others
are spread
too thinly.
Please
consider
joining the
Board of
Trustees as
a Treasurer
or serving
the World
Service
Office as
its
Financial
Officer.
Email chair@artsanonymous.org, or
fill out a Board
application
form.
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The
2026
World
Service
Conference
on January
10, 11, 17,
2026
The
Conference
Service and
Support
Committee is
pleased to
announce the
dates and
time of the
next World
Service
Conference
(WSC).
The WSC is
where
decisions
are made on
behalf of
the
Fellowship
as a whole.
Meetings
elect
Delegates –
and
Alternate
Delegates -
to attend,
have their
voices
heard, and
vote the
group
conscience.
The WSC
will
be held for three
days, January
10, 11,
17th,
beginning at
12 noon ET
each day and
going for
4.5 hours
each day. thThe
WSC will be
held for
three days,
January 10,
11, 17,
2025.
The Agenda
for the WSC
has been
finalized
(this is the
link)!
The Delegate
Packet,
containing
all the
information
needed to be
prepared for
the WSC,
will be sent
out and
posted on
the website
soon.
Please note: Given
the
financial
stress
A.R.T.S. is
under, the
registration
fee for each
Meeting
Delegation
(and each
member of
the Board of
Trustees),
will be $50.
In A.R.T.S.,
we pay our
own way. The
WSC
expresses
the
collective
conscience
for World
Service, and
the WSC is
an important
source of
income to
keep World
Services
operating
Would you
like to help
out during
the World
Service
Conference? Your
skills,
talents and
willingness
to serve as
a Zoom tech
or a
“Scribe” are
welcomed by
the
Conference
Service and
Support
Committee.
Please email conference@artsanonymous.org for
questions or
a position
description.
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Announcing
Two New
Members
to the
Board of
Trustees:
Galina
B. and
Harvey D.
The
Board of
Trustees
is very
happy to
announce
the
election
of two
new
members
to the
Board on
November
8, 2025.
After
approval
by the
Conference,
they
will
serve
three-year
terms.
Galina
B. is
a
writer,
educator,
and
community
builder
whose
creative
life has
been
transformed
through
the 12
Steps of
A.R.T.S.
Anonymous
and
other
recovery
fellowships.
A
scholar
by
profession
and an
artist
at
heart,
she
found in
A.R.T.S.
a
spiritual
home
where
creative
expression
could
finally
flow
without
fear,
perfectionism,
or
self-judgment.
“I
came to
A.R.T.S.
Anonymous
at a
time
when my
artistic
voice
felt
blocked
and
burdened
by
self-criticism.
Through
the
Steps
and
Traditions,
I
discovered
that
creativity
is not
an act
of
performance
but of
surrender,
a way of
listening
to a
Higher
Power
and
sharing
beauty
with
others.”
Galina
serves
as a
Visiting
Assistant
Professor
and
nonprofit
founder,
bringing
experience
in
administration,
writing,
and
community
service
to her
role on
the
Board.
She is
passionate
about
making
A.R.T.S.
Anonymous
more
accessible
to
artists
around
the
world
and
about
bridging
creative
recovery
with
education,
inclusion,
and
service.
Her
vision
for
A.R.T.S.
Anonymous
is a
fellowship
where
artists
of every
background
can feel
seen,
supported,
and
spiritually
connected,
a global
circle
of
creative
healing
grounded
in
humility,
love,
and the
shared
joy of
artistic
expression.
Harvey
D. I
am a
writer,
editor
and
film/animation
historian,
as well
as being
a lapsed
librarian
and
retired
college
professor.
I have
been an
active
member
of
A.R.T.S.
Anonymous
since
1985—except
for a
period
between
2004-2015—serving
in a
variety
of
positions
at the
meeting
level,
with a
stint on
the
Board of
Trustees.
Lately,
I have
served
on the
Literature
Committee.
I hope
to
continue
my work
in this
area,
along
with
using my
skill
set to
help
A.R.T.S.
grow.
I have
always
taken a
pragmatic
approach
to the
Steps
and
Traditions,
which
has
allowed
me to
overcome
a series
of
blocks
that
seem to
want to
sabotage
my hopes
and
dreams.
Thus, I
was
finally
able to
finish
my PhD
dissertation
after
many of
my
school’s
faculty
gave up
on me;
became
the
founder
of a
successful
scholarly
organization
in my
field;
and
signed a
contract
with a
major
book
publisher
for my
magnum
opus.
More
important
than
these
very
real
accomplishments
has been
the
spiritual
joy that
comes
from
stepping
aside
and
letting
my
creativity
flow.
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Why I
Serve on
the
Board of
Trustees:
Doing
Service
Raises
Me Up
By
Cindyann
W.
I am a
suffering
artist
who
wants to
paint
with
bright
acrylic
colors.
My
participation
with
A.R.T.S.
Anonymous
is
changing
my story
from one
of
struggle
to one
of
pleasure
living
my
creative
life.
What I
could
not have
imagined
is how
serving
what
serves
me also
recovers
what was
originally
lost
from my
early
development.
Like
many of
you, I
was born
into a
family
of
chaotic
brokenness
where
boundaries
didn’t
exist.
Coloring
books
and
crayons
filled
the
space
and
lines on
a page
to cope.
Gaps in
my
development
left me
feeling
lost and
confused
about
everything.
I just
didn’t
know
what to
say or
how to
behave,
and I
did not
understand
what was
happening
to me.
Thirty
years
later, I
learned
there
were
12-Step
meetings
to help
lost
people
like me
and that
I needed
to talk
about
it. The
Twelve
Steps
offered
guidance
and
promised
a
spiritual
awakening
could
result
if I was
willing
to learn
what the
Steps
offered.
Tradition
12
assured
me I
could
trust
the
meeting
where my
story
was
witnessed
and
accepted
unconditionally.
I
admired
the
provision
that
abundantly
served
my
recovery
that
began so
many
years
ago. I
hoped
that
someday
my
recovery
would
grow
strong
enough
to be
part of
the
solution.
Working
the
steps
with an
A.R.T.S.
sponsor
led me
to learn
how each
corresponding
Tradition
and
Concept
of
Service
supports
the work
of each
step and
supports
the
entire
structure
of the
A.R.T.S.
Program
as well.
This
committed
person
met with
me once
a week
for over
a year.
I
learned
how
12-Step
programs
impact
the
lives of
a
significant
number
of
people.
I
realized
what it
took to
raise me
up. With
increased
gratitude,
I asked
if I
could
serve on
the
Board of
Trustees
of
A.R.T.S.
Anonymous.
In
2022, I
was
accepted.
Board
service
work and
attending
committee
service
challenges
me to
manage
my
emotions,
especially
when I
disagree
with
what is
said by
another.
As we
practice
the
principles
of the
program
in our
service
groups,
what was
missing
in my
early
development
has a
chance
to grow.
I learn
to
respect
the
group
conscience
process
and
accept
the
outcome.
Participation
in
service
continues
to
invite
me to
rise up.
If I can
claim I
have had
a
spiritual
awakening,
it is
because
of this
solid
structure
sustaining
the
health
12-Step
programs
offer,
and in
A.R.T.S.
the
loving
generosity
of its
members.
Thanks
for
letting
me
serve,
Cindyann
W.
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