LOUD Art Society’s philosophy is deeply inspired by our founder and artist, arts educator and arts advocate, Tara Vahab.
Tara has been immersed in the visual arts for most of her life, earning her first artistic award at the age of nine and connecting struggling individuals with creative activities as a way to support their well-being. Her creative journey extends far beyond visual art, she has explored music, dance, drama, and culinary arts at different stages of her life. Over the years, Tara’s contributions have been recognized with a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal and a Leadership in the Arts Award, honors that reflect both her artistic excellence and her community impact.
Tara has also received certification as a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner from CIIAT and is currently writing a book to share her experiences and knowledge. Through her lifelong practice, she has come to recognize that creative expression is not only a source of joy but also one of the most accessible and effective ways to support mental health, foster resilience, and maintain emotional balance.
Being a highly sensitive person and a survivor of periodic anxiety and depression, Tara is deeply committed to helping others through creativity. Her passion for art has led her to extensive research in human psychology and psychoanalysis, exploring the true purpose of art and creativity in our lives. She is documenting her findings in her upcoming book, Self-Therapy Through Art & Creativity, where she concludes that any form of art is a natural practice of positive psychology. Tara earned her BFA from the University of Calgary in 2015, shortly before founding LOUD Art Society. Her long-term vision is to grow LOUD into a dedicated centre for art and creativity, providing the public with easier access to diverse forms of creative practice.
LOUD Art Society (Let Optimism Unleash Dreams) is a Calgary-based nonprofit organization offering humanitarian artistic services. We are dedicated to enhancing mental health and well-being by creating positive environments through our projects, programs, and events. Our specialty lies in therapeutic art programs that integrate art therapy principles with mindfulness practices.
We are committed to advancing positive psychology, creativity, and emotional intelligence through the arts. By partnering with communities, organizations, and businesses, we bring art where it is most impactful. Our work is built on more than 20 years of practice, talent, research, and lived experience, all dedicated to making art an accessible path to wellness.
Our Mission
To connect and engage families, at-risk youth, and vulnerable individuals with art and creative practices , guided by artists and art therapists, to prevent and support recovery from anxiety, depression, self-harm, PTSD, and eating disorders, while promoting overall mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Our Goal
Exchanging traumas and negative habits with creating positive experiences. Healing, motivation, inspiration and empowerment of 100 lives a year with LOUD Art Society’s creative projects and services.
Our Belief
Creativity is the most significant characteristics of higher intelligence. Great societies are built upon empathetic, creative and passionate initiators therefore, together we create our ideal community as a large family.
Our Vision
To provide an easy and affordable access to art and practicing any form of creativity for maintaining a healthy lifestyle to as many communities as possible.
