Although art may not be able to directly cure disease or heal the sick, it can elevate moods, make anxiety or pain easier to bear and play a significant role in helping someone recover and heal from illness or injury.

That's why Western Reserve Hospital has partnered with Collide: Cuyahoga Falls and ArtsNow of Summit County to provide inspiring artwork from the local creative community. The curated collection will be displayed in Western Reserve Hospital's oncology rooms on an eight- to ten-week rotation, afterwards appearing in an open exhibit in the public access community gallery area, located in one of the hospital's main hallways.

“Chemotherapy and other infusion treatments take some time, and for patients undergoing those treatments in the oncology department, we wanted to make their experience more pleasant," said Kathy Romito, Community Relations Manager at Western Reserve Hospital. "By housing a rotating collection of artwork, we're able to provide these patients with not only a nice change of scenery, but also motivating, hope-inspiring pieces of art that can help them heal emotionally while they’re being treated physically."

This partnership’s goal is to enhance the environment for the oncology patients. Exposing them to the healing power of art provides the patients with positive energy that assists in the healing process. This project will also provide local artists the opportunity to exhibit their artwork to the community.

Call for Artists

If you are interested in participating in the curated art showcase, the next deadline for submission is Nov. 1, 2016, with subsequent submission dates every eight to ten weeks after that. The next installation will be mid-December.

Art may be for sale, and the artist(s) will receive the full payment for their sale. Any individuals interested in purchasing any of the artwork on display can contact the artists directly. 

For questions on the submittal process and artists’ credentials criteria, please contact Project Curator Jessica Lofthus at herself@jessicalofthus.com.

About Western Reserve Hospital

Western Reserve Hospital is the Northeast Ohio region’s only physician-owned, for-profit, full service hospital. With a commitment to patient satisfaction and improved healthcare delivery, Western Reserve Hospital offers general and acute care services, including a 24/7 emergency department. Western Reserve Hospital is also a teaching facility and sponsors graduate medical education teaching programs in osteopathic medicine. The hospital is a majority physician-owned venture of Western Reserve Hospital Partners, which represents a collaboration of more than 200 physicians, including primary care physicians, surgeons and specialists.

About Collide: Cuyahoga Falls

Collide: Cuyahoga Falls is an organization dedicated to bringing awareness to the unique art and cultural scene of Cuyahoga Falls to, for and with the community. Through collaboration with like-minded organizations, other artists and supporters of the arts, our goal is to help create a vibrant Cuyahoga Falls.

About ArtsNow

ArtsNow is an innovative new non-profit which will connect arts, culture and community. An outcome of the GAR and Knight Foundation funded Arts and Culture Assessment, ArtsNow seeks to connect, collaborate and support the incredible work being done by the creative sector in Summit County, Ohio.