Woman's Launches Multimedia Healing Arts Program

June 17, 2013

Woman’s Hospital is showcasing its creative side with an arts program designed to comfort patients and enhance healing. The hospital’s multimedia Healing Arts Program includes performing arts, music, writing, painting, crafts, gardening and other creative work. The initiative, which includes hospital staff and the community working together to create a therapeutic arts program, is designed to help patients on pregnancy bed rest, women battling cancer, NICU parents, as well as guests, employees and physicians.

Visual arts programs will include writing (journaling and poetry), NICU weekly scrapbooking sessions, a healing garden (spring 2014) and art shows. Monthly workshops are held for employees, physicians and families.

During Nurses Week (May 6-12), talented nurses kicked off the program with an art show. One exhibit included a quilt made from Woman’s t-shirts that have promoted hospital events and milestones over the years.

As part of the performing arts initiative, the “Voices of Woman’s Chorale,” a concert series of one or more singing groups of Woman’s employees, will begin performing in August. Currently, a concert is being held monthly throughout the Woman’s campus. The concert begins in the elevator lobby on the fifth floor, performs for a few minutes on each floor and concludes in the main lobby with a 30-minute performance. Music is unamplified instrument and/or voice to reduce patient intrusion. On May 15, Woman’s employee and flutist Betsy Hodnett performed for patients and staff. Bedside music is also available for patients seeking musical therapy.

Concerts are tentatively scheduled for the following dates at 5 PM.

  • June 19, 2013
  • July 17, 2013
  • August 21, 2013
  • September 18, 2013
  • October 18, 2013
  • November 20, 2013
  • December 18, 2013
  • January 15, 2014
  • February 19, 2014
  • March 19, 2014