This post was updated Jan. 16 at 10:07 p.m.

The growing popularity of arts and crafts allows Bruins to reap the activities’ financial and emotional benefits.

Over half of the United States adult population participates in arts and crafts – from traditional mediums such as drawing, pottery and knitting to modern practices like digital art and game design – according to a 2022 National Endowment for the Arts survey. The same survey found a 26% increase in weaving, crocheting, quilting and sewing compared to 2020 – a trend which Bruins have been participating in and experiencing the benefits of.

Mary McSweeney, a fourth-year statistics and data science student, said crocheting helps her de-stress.

“Crocheting really helps me relax and take my mind off of things,” McSweeney said. “I like that it’s something I can do with multitasking. If I have a lecture to watch for a class, I can crochet at the same time – that keeps me focused and relieves stress for me.”

For students with artistic interests, UCLA and Westwood Village provide a robust creative scene.

The Hammer Museum, an art museum and cultural center located at the corner of Westwood Boulevard and Wilshire Boulevard, hosts a free event called Art Lab every Saturday afternoon. Hallie Scott, the associate director of academic programs at the Hammer Museum, said the Art Lab gives people an opportunity to connect with the museum’s exhibits and create their own art.

“I think having a free drop-in art-making space … invites people into the museum and gives them a space to reflect on the art that they see and make their own dialogue with the artwork,” Scott said.

Events hosted by the Hammer Museum are just one of many opportunities making up the broader U.S. arts-and-crafts-based economy. A 2022 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis news release found that arts and cultural economic activity made up 4.3% of the country’s gross domestic product. GDP from art performances, museums, fine arts education and education services showed an upward trend in 2021 and 2022 compared to previous years, according to the news release.

The Hammer Museum hires UCLA students to serve as tour guides and event facilitators, one of whom is Julia Park, a fourth-year psychology and art history student. Park said she enjoys seeing participants’ creativity on paper.

“It’s really interesting to see how people bond with other people that they’re creating the artworks with,” Park said. “I think Art Lab is really special because it’s not just about the activity of art and creating art, but it’s the time spent together in this space and being creative.”

The economics of arts and crafts is not limited to institutions like museums.

On campus, many Bruins pursue entrepreneurship through the arts. According to a 2023 global report on student entrepreneurship that surveyed over 226,000 students across 57 countries, around 11% of students worldwide own and run businesses, and over 50% of American college students are active entrepreneurs.

Fourth-year English student Samantha Payne said she assists with the backend operations of her sister’s business called Sidney’s Stuffies, which her sister founded after her sewing teacher encouraged her to sell her crochet animals. Besides helping with her sister’s business, Samantha said she also enjoys crafting clay figures in her leisure.

Sidney Payne, an English student at Allan Hancock College and the owner of Sidney’s Stuffies, said making stuffed animals is calming for her.

“I suffer from a lot of anxiety, so being able to just sit down and work on my love brings a lot of joy and relaxation to me,” Sidney said.

Sidney added that she has sold over 100 stuffed animals.

“It has almost been the one-year anniversary for the business, and I think since we are doing the bigger markets and festivals, there’s been increasing sales,” Sidney said.

Similar to Sidney, McSweeney sells her crochet animals – including ones of a popular hamster meme, dinosaurs and elephants – on Bruinwalk to fundraise for the Chi Alpha Psi fraternity she leads. She said watching TikTok videos inspired her to pursue crocheting as a hobby, which she decided to turn into a business last year.

Whether as a hobby or as a side hustle, art can be beneficial for mental health.

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health found art could improve the mood and mental health of individuals with chronic medical conditions. The study – which looked at the results of an 8-week program led by art therapists on selected participants with health conditions such as diabetes or depression – found art instilled a sense of empowerment and helped relieve stress and anxiety.

In fact, with art therapy showing proven benefits for various mental health conditions, the American Art Therapy Association reported an 8% increase in members from 2020 to 2021.

For Park, who enjoys the arts through both her work with the Hammer Museum and in her free time, art is therapy.

“It’s how I can really spend time with myself,” Park said. “It’s very calm and rewarding for me.”