CALM Creative

Where art, poetry, music, dance, storytelling, and philosophy meet mindful awareness

CALM Creative offers students a welcoming space to explore and share their creative expressions that reflect insight, mindful awareness, and authentic dedication to exploration.

Whether through writing, drawing, music, movement, storytelling, or multimedia, participants are invited to reflect on the deeper questions of meaning, belonging, ancestry, community, struggle, authenticity, flourishing, and interconnection.

This program is thoughtfully structured to cultivate a deep sense of belonging and foster holistic development within a supportive academic environment.

CALM Creative works at the convergence of creative vision, community of shared connection, and collective flourishing. This intentional focus on fostering an affirming environment ensures that participants feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive, contributing to both their individual growth and the well-being of the broader university community.

Submissions

  • Creative Writing: Essays, short stories, personal reflections, memoirs, poems, philosophical or spiritual musings

  • Visual Art: Paintings, drawings, photography, digital collage

  • Performance: Songwriting, spoken word, hip hop, storytelling, dance, theater pieces

  • Multimedia Projects: Short films, audio recordings, zines

Note: Works should engage at some level with contemplative questions, explicitly or implicitly.

Program Components

1. CALM Creative Showcase

A community gathering or open mic event featuring selected creative submissions

Includes time for brief artist reflections or audience dialogue

Hosted in a relaxed and reflective setting either inside or outdoors under trees

2. Online CALM Creative Gallery

An emerging digital ecosystem of written and visual works featured on the CALM Studies webpage

Each piece includes an optional short personal statement