Grateful Patient Supports UH Art Collection
Studies show there is a direct link between a hospital’s environment and the brain’s reaction to pain, stress and anxiety. In 1988, University Hospitals established the UH Fine Arts collection under the direction of Trudy Wiesenberger, the hospital system’s first art curator to promote feelings of calm and comfort to those seeking care throughout the hospital system. Today, a professional staff led by curator Tom Huck manages the collection of more than 3,000 original works of art, many generously donated by grateful UH patients.
The variety of work created by talented regional and national artists advances the healing process and enhances the patient experience, and was very appreciated by Josie Anderson during her patient experience at UH Seidman Cancer Center.
Art has always played an integral role Josie’s life. Her daughter is an artist currently working toward her MFA degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art, and her sister is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, where Josie sits on the Board of Directors. Josie also served as chair of the Women’s Council for the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Josie spent many hours receiving immunotherapy treatments at UH Seidman Cancer Center and noticed the art throughout the building. She found it uplifting and inspirational, explaining, “It made my experience so much more palatable; I wanted to ensure it could continue for others to experience.”
An invitation to a UH fine arts show gave Josie the idea for an impactful gift that incorporated her love for art. During the show, Josie learned that the expense of framing art to prepare it for exhibition often prevents emerging artists the opportunity to show their work. Josie was inspired to create the UH Emerging Artists Fund to support artists who would not otherwise have the means to frame their work for display at UH. Thanks to Josie’s generosity, artists may now apply for a stipend to assist with preparation and framing costs.
Additionally, Josie established the UH Fine Arts Internship Fund to provide a unique, hands-on experience for fine arts students to work on curatorial and exhibition-related projects. Both programs strengthen the hospital system’s commitment to art as an integral component to health care.
“Josie and her family’s gift creates a tremendous, annual opportunity for full-time upper classmen art students and professional emerging artists in our region to participate in an unique programming model within the UH Fine Art Department,” said Tom Huck, UH Art Curator.
Josie continues her support of UH by serving on the National Arts Leadership Council for the hospital system, where she helps obtain resources to expand the art collection that provided her such comfort.