Artist-in-Residence

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• Refer a patient

Our Artist-in-Residence works with children in groups or in one-on-one sessions, providing a nurturing and inspirational creative experience to every child. Art serves as a connection between the mind, the emotions, and the body, and by integrating art into the caregiving of patients, we can improve a child's ability to heal on every level. Regardless of physical limitations, every child that's hospitalized at UCSF Benioff Children's gets the opportunity to express their feelings, hopes, and fears through art.

Why Families Choose Us

Artist-in-Residence for Personalized Attention

• The creative process helps sick children and teens to better cope with stress, work through traumatic experiences, voice unexpressed thoughts, and emotions, and to simply enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of the creative process.
• The Artist-in-Residence Program's inclusive, interactive, and therapeutic art activities help kids to normalize their hospital experience, and our staff works with children in groups or in one-on-one sessions, providing a nurturing and inspirational creative experience to every child.
• Art experiences range from ceramics to printmaking to mural painting. Visitors can view and enjoy some of our patient artwork in a number of locations throughout the hospital, including the second-floor cafeteria and the Outpatient Center atrium.

Comprehensive Child Life Program

• The Artist-in-Residence program and Art therapy at Children’s Hospital Oakland is part of our Child Life Program, which helps bridge the gaps between home, hospital, and school with age-appropriate activities.
• Our Child Life Program features highly trained and certified professionals who promote growth through therapeutic play, education, and self-expression and includes playrooms stocked with activities, as well as a teen lounge for adolescents.

Support the Artist-in-Residence Program

This Artist-in-Residence program depends entirely on monetary and in-kind donations to continue its mission. To learn more about how your generosity can help a sick child to heal through the arts please contact:

UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals Foundation

Phone: (510) 428-3814
Email: hospital4kids@mail.cho.org

Divna Wheelwright, Manager, Child Life Services
Phone: (510) 428-3520
Email: DWheelwright@mail.cho.org