Grantees
and Partners

Overview

Public hospitals are not typically on the radar of most philanthropists. As a result, they often have limited budgets and flexibility for special programs outside of essential medical services. But private donors can and do make an impact.

The Illumination Fund was the major funder for the the NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine program, launched in 2019.

The programs integrate creative engagements into clinical and community settings to improve patient experiences and outcomes as well as the resiliency of medical professionals, family members, and other caregivers.

Grant

Purpose: To expand the NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine programs that serve health care staff, patients, and communities in public hospitals, long-term care facilities, and health clinics across the City

The Illumination Fund’s initial 3-year grant of $1.5 million helped Health + Hospitals to establish a centralized Arts in Medicine department, develop a systemwide strategy to combat staff burnout and compassion fatigue, foster partnerships with arts organizations across the city, support emotional well-being for hospital employees, and promote healing for patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

This is accomplished through activities and programs utilizing the system’s robust art collection — the largest such collection in a public healthcare system — as well as with visual, literary, and performing arts programs. These programs have proven highly popular and effective.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the Illumination Fund provided additional support to assist frontline staff, including basic supplies and services during the peak of the crisis and long-term support for mental health as the pandemic evolved, and the installation of relaxation stations at 15 sites to monitor and alleviate frontline staff stress levels.

In 2023 the Illumination Fund doubled its support of Arts in Medicine with a new grant of $3 million.

Impact

The most visible program has been the Community Mural Project, a collaborative process that promotes staff wellness, sparks creativity, and strengthens the bonds between staff, patients, and the community. The community murals are developed and implemented by artists in collaboration with staff, community members and patients through focus groups, engagement events and paint parties. Everyone is invited to paint the mural, which becomes a permanent artwork in the facility. Thousands of staff and community members have participated.

In 2023, Health + Hospitals launched the next wave of community murals as well as other new and expanded Arts in Medicine programs to enhance the healthcare environment and to engage hospital staff.