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Art Education & Mental Wellness

By Michelle Miserez, VP Franchise Development | April 15, 2026

Mental Health Awareness Month in May focuses on reducing stigma and promoting well-being, with art serving as a powerful, non-verbal tool for healing, expression, and stress reduction. Art school franchises are crucial because they offer accessible, community-based spaces for creative outlets, helping children and adults build resilience, manage emotions, and foster mental wellness. Why Art…

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RECENT POSTS

Holiday Gratitude

On behalf of the entire community of One River School, I want to take this moment to personally wish you and your families a happy and healthy holiday and joyous new year.   There are so many things that I love about the holiday season. In particular, one of the most important benefits for me…

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Digital Art at One River

It is so fascinating to see how the world has changed when it comes to the importance of digital skills in business and in life. Ten years ago when we started One River, the train was rolling and you could see that the demand for creative and digital skills was going to be gigantic. That…

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The Benefit of Artmaking for Mental Health

As we approach this new year, we all have the opportunity to determine how we will allocate our time to the most compelling ways to improve our health and wellness. And, based on continued new research, spending time making artwork can provide a direct boost in these areas for people of all ages.   According…

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Artist Profile: Eric Hibit

As I continue to study contemporary art, I have refined my personal perspective around what artwork I am most attracted to.  And, it is abundantly clear that I am a sucker for color and Eric Hibit wrote the book on it.  Literally.   Eric is currently our featured artist in Montclair, NJ, and if you…

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The Tree

I love this photo for so many reasons.   As a lifelong New Yorker, the beginning of winter and the holiday season almost always coincides with the installation of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. From the time I was a child and right through today, I still get a special feeling when I see…

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Positive Energy

I spend so much time thinking about how to avoid the pitfalls that mess with my psyche, impact my productivity, harm my confidence and put me in a negative place. While I’m naturally wired to be positive, that wiring largely goes first towards helping others… I don’t always practice what I preach.   Everywhere you…

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Two River Has Come a Long Way Too

Don’t be confused by the title above because in September 2013, we presented an exhibition entitled “Two River” that featured five female artists from Brooklyn. At the time, we wanted to share with our community some of the most compelling female emerging artists from Brooklyn (located two rivers away from our first location in Englewood New Jersey—hence the…

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Painting in a Pandemic

This past weekend, we opened a new exhibition at our Allendale location with artwork by Jared Deery. Jared is one of my favorite people in the art world… he is self-aware, thoughtful, hard-working and talented.   When I was talking with Jared about the exhibition, he told me that so much of the art was made in…

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Dillon and Agnes

Art making is a journey that allows you to reflect on what went into making an object long after it was completed. The same goes for building an art school or any business. There’s some synergy in this photo that is worth describing as we reflect on the 10th anniversary of One River School. Dillon…

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The Joy of Doing vs. The Joy of Sharing

For the last 10 years I have loved sneaking into the studios to see our students engrossed in making artwork. I have become fascinated with the process of making art and the deep concentration that’s required. Without a doubt, you can see the wheels turning, the problem-solving skills at work and a whole bunch of…

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