RENO --  Four student artists from high schools in the Washoe County School District (WCSD) are sharing their talents at the bedsides of patients at Renown Skilled Nursing Facility as
part of the 2012-2013 WCSD arts4healing program.

The students work with patients to create artistic works, while encouraging patients to express themselves through painting, drawing, and other art forms.

Arts4healing is the first program of its kind in the country.

“We have patients waking up and asking when their friends will arrive to paint,” said Anna Zucker, development specialist for Renown Health Foundation. “Many patients have never done anything artrelated, and this is something completely new and interesting. Some of them were artists at one time who have had their creative passion reignited.”

“The arts4healing program with Renown is such a wonderful program for our students,” said Dave Branson, WCSD fine arts coordinator. “They are able to have a real-life experience in arts therapy while working with patients. This partnership with Renown helps showcase the important role that the arts have in healing and
wellness.”

Student artists submitted their artwork for consideration and were chosen by a team of community arts professionals, volunteers, and Renown medical staff. They have been trained to work with patients in group and hospital room settings, offering them an outlet for expressing themselves during times when it may otherwise be difficult to express themselves in any other way. Staff members say students and patients are benefiting from the program. More than a dozen patients are participating in the program.

“It is fun to talk to patients about who they will be giving their work to as a gift—a friend, a family member, and even hospital staff as a thank you gift,” said Zucker. “Patients can paint or draw with no limits to their creativity. The WCSD artists are a true gift to our patients, and we see this as our patients anxiously wait for the class to begin.”