Artistic expression often is used as a therapy to help people who have lived through traumatic experiences work through the grieving and healing processes. People of all ages experiencing behavioral, emotional and medical problems can benefit from art therapy by increasing self-awareness, resolving life-changing events, improving coping skills and expressing difficult feelings.

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin art specialists use art in the hospital setting to help patients cope, and find it’s a wonderful way to help them express what they are thinking or feeling. But you don’t have to be ill or suffer a traumatic event to benefit from art or creating art.

Children of all ages benefit from self-expression through the artistic process. This can be as simple as finger painting for a 2-year-old or creating a multimedia collage with markers, paper, fabric and found objects for a 6-year-old. The experience of creating art offers a way for children to develop reasoning and to express their emerging thoughts and feelings. And, it’s fun!

This is YOUR Children’s Hospital
In spring of 2009, Children’s Hospital will open its new west tower. The 12-story, 425,000-square-foot expansion will increase the 236-bed hospital to 294 beds with space for 72 more beds in the future. The state-of-the-art facility also will include a larger Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and an expanded Herma Heart Center. Many people including physicians, nurses and our patients and families have been instrumental in the planning and design. In addition to the most cutting-edge technology and nationally recognized pediatric care, this expansion will offer a brighter and well-thought out environment with many amenities that will help children and families heal.

What does YOUR Children’s look like?
Last year Children’s Hospital cared for more than 250,000 children—many of whom live in your neighborhood or go to school with your own kids. Perhaps your family has been cared for by Children’s Hospital as an inpatient or in one of our outpatient clinics, by a Children’s Medical Group pediatrician or at a Children’s Urgent Care. We invite all children and adolescents ages 3-18 to share the story of their experiences with us through their art. We hope to use some of the submitted artwork in the following ways:
•    On the walls of Children’s Hospital.
•    Showcased in a Children’s Hospital coffee table book.
•    As part of a traveling art exhibit.
•    At a grand opening event for the new Children’s Hospital west tower.

Between now and June 13, 2008, submit artwork created on the entry form. Children can use crayons, colored pencils, markers, paint or pastels for their hospital artwork, be creative! All entries will be considered, and families will be notified if their child’s artwork has been selected. Four grand prize winners will receive a stay in Wisconsin Dells for four. We look forward to receiving your entries.

Download your entry form

Amy Phillips, MA, Fine and Decorative Arts, is an art therapist at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

FAST FACT: More than 800 pieces of children’s artwork are hanging on the walls of Children’s Hospital and Health System facilities.