Art from the Heart

Mission: To use art as a therapeutic tool to help individuals, particularly those facing challenges such as trauma, illness, or personal struggles, express themselves, heal, and foster resilience.

Art from the Heart is a volunteer program  of Burlington City Arts in collaboration with the University of Vermont Medical Center that connects volunteers, patients, and caregivers, with art supplies at the University of Vermont Medical Center and Children’s Hospital to help make the hospital a more creative, compassionate, and connected place since 1994.

Hospital rooms and chemotherapy infusion bays become temporary art studios for patients and their caregivers, transforming the hospital environment into a more creative place. The program supports children, families, patients of all ages, nurses, doctors, and all care team members. Just over half of the participants are children under the age of 18. Art from the Heart is FREE for anyone at UVM Medical Center and Children’s Hospital.

We visit patient rooms and waiting areas, working one on one and in small groups. A visit with a patient or family members can start as simply as talking about favorite TV shows and music. An Art from the Heart visit can be as complex as a painting party, creative writing session, or team art project. A lot of time it is a quick gifting of an art print and / or supplies and ideas to help spark creative expression. If you enjoy drawing, we create drawings for people on their door windows to personalize and beautify hospital rooms and units. No art skills are needed, just an enjoyment of the arts, and a compassionate approach.