The Artist-in-Residence Program is the heart of COLLAGE’s programming. In this program, accomplished and dedicated local artists work one-on-one with patients, at the bedside in hospital rooms, and at the chair-side in treatment areas and in waiting rooms. Using an intuitive approach, artists work individually with patients, without any pre-specified outcomes, to support the unique interests and needs of each patient, providing a supportive environment where participants are free to explore their creativity and express themselves through art.

For some participants, engaging in a ‘hands-on’ creative process provides a chance to step aside from their identities as patients and to escape from daily routine. For others, it is an opportunity for self-exploration. Participants benefit in ways that are as individual as the art they create.