Hallway of Hope – Bringing Light & Joy to Cancer Patients Through Children’s Art

About the Program

Category: Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

Hallway of Hope-Bringing Light & Joy to Cancer Patients Through Children’s Art Henrico County, VA Population: 280,581 Hallway of Hope is a partnership between Henrico County Doctor’s Hospital and Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) as a way to bring light and joy to cancer patients. As these patients walk the long and undecorated hallway to the radiation oncology department of the hospital, the hallway was depressing. The Hallway of Hope project uses children art to decorate the hallway and inspire cancer patients during their treatments. A team consisting of Henrico County Public Schools, Henrico Doctor’s Hospital and Henrico County Public Schools Art Specialist gathered the public schools’ art teachers to explain the vision to them. Supplying the teachers with several donated packets of art supplies, they were instructed to ask their students “What makes me the happiest” and to create an art display of their response. Over 600 art pieces were submitted to the Central Office and the hospital now rotates 20 pieces of art in the hallway at a time. The ribbon cutting for the initial 20 pieces was done during Breast Cancer Awareness month and was accompanied by the HCPS School Board, HCPS Office of Communications & Community Outreach, the hospital, all principal participants and the student artists and families along with the local media (print and television) who conducted on site filming and interviews. This project allows students from 5th grade to 12th grade to realize that they can reach out beyond themselves to help others and that their art can make a positive impact on someone’s life. The art adds to the students education while adding to the viewers overall environment. This cost effective program brings relief to cancer patients and inspiration to students.