Art@Hospital

Julian Lennon’s White Feather Foundation embraces Art@Hospital, an initiative to honour patients undergoing treatment in hospitals around the world. Together we bring colour into their lives via donated artworks to brighten hospital walls and create positive energy.

Pedro’s wish

It all began with Pedro Olivera—a loving husband, caring son, loyal friend and compassionate colleague treasured by so many for his charisma and positivity. When he was just 31 years of age, Pedro was diagnosed with leukemia. Just six days later, he passed away.

His final hours were spent in a bland hospital ward; his last wish to have his favorite painting delivered to his room to add color to the somber walls. From this experience came the inspiration for Art@Hospital, a program designed to brighten and lift the spirits of patients and their families who are experiencing their darkest hours.

The concept is simple: Commission an artist to donate joyful, uplifting artwork to a hospital in your neighborhood, then work with the hospital to hang the artwork and spread the word so more will join the movement, replicating the process in hospitals worldwide.

How you can help:

Art@Hospital Near You

A zero-cost way to make a difference, Art@Hospital only requires time and communication to succeed.

Step 1. Contact a hospital near you.

Start with the administrative or marketing office who can direct you to the person that handles this type of request. Once you’re routed to that individual, explain the program and emphasize that if accepted, the hospital would incur no costs. Use the sample script below as a guideline of what to say on the phone or write in an email to hospital personnel.

Step 2. Commission a local artist or group of artists.

Visit local coffee shops, art fairs or universities to find artists who may want to volunteer their work. Or, meet with an art teacher at a nearby school to see if their students could make hospital artwork as a class project. A sample script of what to say is below. Be sure to visit the participating hospital before you approach artists so you know exactly what size/quantity of artwork you’ll need. It’s also a good idea to build a timeline of when the artwork will need to be delivered based on the availability of the hospital. Once you get an artist on board, secure a space at the hospital where they can store completed works until they’re ready to be hung.

Sample script for Hospital Personnel

Hello,

My name is _______________________ and I’d like to tell you about a free art program for hospitals designed to brighten the walls for your patients and their families. It’s called Art@Hospital and was inspired by a young leukemia patient who lost his battle with cancer just six days after he was diagnosed. His dying wish was that his favorite painting be brought to his room to brighten the dreary walls. We want to make sure other patients experience joy during their hospital stays by providing uplifting, joyful art.

If you’d like your hospital to participate, I’ll commission an artist to create and donate a number of paintings, drawings or photographs with positive themes. Once they’re complete, I’ll bring volunteers in to help hang the artwork at a designated time of your choosing. Once the installation is in place, we’ll take photographs to add to an online gallery. This gallery exists on the website of our charity partners at The White Feather Foundation, which was founded by Julian Lennon. There is no charge to your hospital to participate.

The artwork will bring light to patients in their darkest hours, give exposure to a local artist and potentially bring positive media attention to your hospital.

Please let me know if this offer is of interest.

Kind regards,

{Signature}

for Individual Artists

Hello,

My name is _______________________ and I’d like to tell you about a free art program for hospitals designed to brighten the walls for patients and their families. It’s called Art@Hospital and was inspired by a young leukemia patient who lost his battle with cancer just six days after he was diagnosed. His dying wish was that his favorite painting be brought to his room to brighten the dreary walls. We want to make sure other patients experience joy during their hospital stays by providing uplifting, joyful art.

I’m reaching out to you today because I’d love for you to be a featured artist at _________ Hospital. They have agreed to hang the artwork we commission and we think your style would complement the project beautifully. Although we’re unable to pay you for your artwork, we can place title cards with your information next to each work you donate, which could lead to a new audience of collectors for your work. We will also take photographs of the installation once it’s complete and add them to an online gallery at the website of our charity partners: The White Feather Foundation, an organization founded by Julian Lennon.

If interested, the only guidelines for the artwork are to adhere to the size requirements and create pieces with bright colors and positive vibes.

Please let me know if you’d like to participate.

Kind regards,

{Signature}

for Art Teachers

Hello,

I’m reaching out to you today because I’d love for your students to be featured artists at _________ Hospital. They have agreed to hang the artwork we commission and we think they’d be delighted with creations by kids. Aside from the exposure your class would get on-site at the hospital, we’ll take photographs of the installation once it’s complete and add them to an online gallery at the website of our charity partners: The White Feather Foundation, an organization founded by Julian Lennon.

If interested, the only guidelines for the artwork are to adhere to the size requirements and create pieces with bright colors and positive vibes.

Please let me know if you’d like to participate.

Kind regards,

{Signature}

Step 3. Unveil the artwork.

On a day designated by the hospital, gather the artists and volunteers to help hang the artwork. If appropriate, schedule a formal ‘unveiling’ party and work with the hospital’s public relations team to invite local media to attend. Be sure to take photos of the installation and send them to [email protected] for inclusion in the online gallery at whitefeatherfoundation.com. Be sure to send the name and location of the hospital and any pertinent details about their facility (i.e. if they specialize in any specific area of care).

Tribute to Cynthia Lennon with Art@Hospital

This is a tribute to Cynthia Lennon and a wonderful example of Art@Hospital in the Municipal Hospital of Oncology Marie Curie, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Art@Hospital is a beautiful project that brings hope, inspiration and joy for patients and their families.

Thanks to Nadia Elisa Baltazar, Buenos Aires, Argentina for sharing these wonderful photos with us.

Center of Rehabilitation – University San Martin, Buenos Aires

Art@Hospital project for the Center of Rehabilitation of the University San Martin, Buenos Aires. A huge success with so many amazing contributions from talented artists. Thank you to all that have helped to bring joy and life to these hospital walls.

Top neurologists at the hospital work with patients to regain their motoric and cognitive skills. The doctors firmly believe that via art the brain gets impulses that are important to the healing process.

Argentine artists donated 120 paintings as a response to the combined efforts of Art@ Hospital and The White Feather Foundation. Ken Done, famous Australian artist, donated his colourful posters and the Center now looks splendid and colourful.

Patients and medical staff are delighted and give thanks from their heart for the inspiration and positive energy it has brought them.

The project started on 20th of February and will have its festive inauguration on the 1st of April. Franco Bacchiani will play guitar and all staff of the University and contributing artists will attend.