traditions.

  
 

Just as freedom for the individual artist comes from the ARTS Steps, so freedom for the group springs from our ARTS Traditions. They are the guidelines that keep our fellowship alive and free.

  
     
1

Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon ARTS unity.

  
2

For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority, a loving Higher Power as it may express itself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants, they do not govern.

  
3

The only requirement for ARTS membership is a desire to identify and express our creativity.

  
4

Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or ARTS as a whole.

  
5
Each group has but one primary purpose; to carry its message to the creative person who still suffers.

  
6
An ARTS group ought never endorse, finance, or lend its name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

  
7

Every ARTS group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

  
8
ARTS should remain forever non-professional, but our service centres may employ special workers.

  
9
ARTS, as such, ought never be organised, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

  
10
ARTS has no opinion on outside issues, hence the ARTS name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

  
11
Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion, we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and television.

  
12
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
  
 

 

Adapted from the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Reprinted by permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Traditions Copyright © 1939 by AA World Services, Inc.