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About IEATA®
The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association®
The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association® (IEATA®) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization (Tax ID: 94 3203797) founded in 1994 to encourage the creative spirit.
We are IEATA!
Our inclusive, culturally diverse organization supports expressive arts therapists, artists, educators and consultants, and others using integrative, multimodal arts processes for personal and community growth and transformation.
If you want to bring healing to the world through the expressive arts, you belong in IEATA.
Sharing the expressive arts since 1995
1993
IEATA founded
IEATA founded by Nina (Anin) Utigaard, Jack Weller, Steve Levine, and Phillip Speiser
1994
Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy Institute
Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy Institute (PCEAI) Core Faculty members
Patricia Waters, Maria Gonzalez-Blue, Natalie Rogers, Shellee Davis, and Anin Utigaard
1995
Inaugural Conference
Creativity, Identity, Community
San Francisco, CA
1997
2nd Biennial International Conference
Boston, MA
1998
3rd Biennial International Conference
From Arts Play to Heart’s Play–The Role of Compassion in Expressive Arts Therapy
Toronto, CA
2000
4th Biennial International Conference
Integrating Art & Life in the 21st Century
San Francisco, CA
2002
5th Biennial International Conference
Ecology & Expressive Arts: Tending the Inner & Outer Environments (Spirit, Creativity, Earth)
Banff, Canada
2005
6th Biennial International Conference
Voices for Peace and Transformation
San Francisco, CA
2007
7th Biennial International Conference
Ancient Mountains, Whispering Waters, Sacred Stones
Boone, NC
2013
10th Biennial International Conference
Keep Reading
Expressive Arts in the Winds of Change — Las Artes Expresivas en los Aires de Cambio
Berkeley, CA
2014
The Power of Creativity TeleSummit
1993
IEATA founded
IEATA founded by Nina (Anin) Utigaard, Jack Weller, Steve Levine, and Phillip Speiser
1994
Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy Institute
Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy Institute (PCEAI) Core Faculty members
Patricia Waters, Maria Gonzalez-Blue, Natalie Rogers, Shellee Davis, and Anin Utigaard
1995
Inaugural Conference
Creativity, Identity, Community
San Francisco, CA
1997
2nd Biennial International Conference
Boston, MA
1998
3rd Biennial International Conference
From Arts Play to Heart’s Play–The Role of Compassion in Expressive Arts Therapy
Toronto, CA
1998
Launch of REAT® Credential
2000
4th Biennial International Conference
Integrating Art & Life in the 21st Century
San Francisco, CA
2002
5th Biennial International Conference
Ecology & Expressive Arts: Tending the Inner & Outer Environments (Spirit, Creativity, Earth)
Banff, Canada
2003
IEATA Regional Groups formalized
2005
6th Biennial International Conference
Voices for Peace and Transformation
San Francisco, CA
2007
7th Biennial International Conference
Ancient Mountains, Whispering Waters, Sacred Stones
Boone, NC
2007
Launch of REACE® Credential
2009
8th Biennial International Conference
2011
9th Biennial International Conference
2013
10th Biennial International Conference
Expressive Arts in the Winds of Change — Las Artes Expresivas en los Aires de Cambio
Berkeley, CA
2014
The Power of Creativity TeleSummit
2014
1st Latin American Regional Symposium
2015
1st IEATA Conference in Asia
2017
The 12th IEATA International Conference
2019
The 13th IEATA International Conference
2020
2nd Latin American Regional Symposium
2022
The 14th IEATA International Conference
2023
The 15th IEATA International Conference
Our Regional Groups
Part of what makes IEATA special is our global, cross-cultural presence. View our regional groups to join practitioners near you.
IEATA Rising Stars
The “Rising Star” award is given to a member of IEATA within the first ten years of their career in the expressive arts, who exhibits strong leadership qualities and a high level of passion and commitment to the field. Typically, Rising Star awardees have served on the IEATA® board at some point in some capacity, however this is not a requirement.
The award is typically presented at the annual International Conference, we hope to see you at our next event!
Awardees
- 2019: Christina Hampton & Lillian Obanio
- 2022: Aleck Kwong
- 2023: Aisha Radwan & Dominic Paguio
IEATA Shining Stars
“Shining Star” represents a guiding light inspiring us as we nurture the expressive arts field and IEATA.
It is an award to honor one of our innovative members who has contributed tremendously to the expansion of the field of expressive arts.
The award is typically presented at the annual International Conference, we hope to see you at our next event!
Awardees
- 1998: (Posthumously) Natalie Rogers
- 2000: Anna Halprin
- 2002: Paolo Knill
- 2005: Kate Donohue
- 2007: Jack Weller
- 2009: Ellen and Steven Levine
- 2011: Sally Atkins
- 2013: Anin Utigaard
- 2015: Maria Gonzalez-Blue
- 2017: Mitchell Kossak
- 2019: Fiona Chang
- 2022: Karen Estrella
- 2023: Kathleen Horne
