SaludArte: Art of Healing Program
Art of Healing
SaludArte: Art of Healing program was established by University Health in 2010, with an appointed staff, community leaders and stakeholder committee, to integrate artwork as a healing component in our built environments.
Mission Statement
Our vision is to use art to inspire healing, compassion, hope and trust. We also aim to reflect the community, improve the experience of our patients and visitors, and communicate our important mission through art and design enhancements, while being good stewards of our financial and natural resources.
Goals
- Reflect the community we serve
- Improve the experience of our patients and visitors
- Communicate our mission through art and design enhancements
- Be good stewards of our financial and natural resources
Benefits of Art in a Healing Environment
- Positive distraction from worry and anxiety
- Faster healing, less medication and shorter hospital stays
- Reflect the community and patient populations we serve
- Staff retention and welcoming environments for patients and families
- Cost effective
Our Programs
- Patient channel for arts events
- Art pop-up workshops
- Art staff workshops for wellness
- Music performances
- Poetry readings
- Artist demonstrations
- Art and music in the garden
- Art kits to the bedside
- Staff and community art exhibitions
- Staff community art outings
- Music to nursing areas and patient floors
Awards and Recognitions
- 2023 CODAworx award for Healthcare Interiors, Michael Szivos and Softlab, “Nest”
- 2020 National Organization of Art in Health (NOAH) Honorable Mention for utilizing the arts for resilience during COVID-19
- 2014 CODAworx award for Healthcare Interiors, Ansen Seale, “You Activate this Space”
Our Process
SaludArte is laid out in three phases following a long-standing, evidence-based best practices model to art in healing integration.
- Design Enhancement, which is art work built into the building such as glass, metal, screens and staircases
- Public Art, art selected for a specific area or signature wall
- Art Procurement, where staff, patients and artists work from the local, state, national and international markets can be acquired or received through donation. This includes all mediums.
University Health follows an approved policy for all art donations received.
Art Calls
Any interested artists or small businesses can look for our University Health Art Calls on our platform partner, www.publicartist.org. Please direct questions to info@publicartist.org.
Art in Our Facilities
Many of our locations across San Antonio feature artwork from local and national artists.
Women's & Children's Hospital
Opened in 2023, the Women’s & Children’s Hospital features the work of hundreds of artists and small businesses. We focus on the needs of children and women to create a place of discovery, hope, calm and regeneration.
Dr. Robert L.M. Hilliard Center
The Dr. Robert L.M. Hilliard Center opened in January 2018. The artwork is an important standard and the continuation of quality continues throughout all of our renovated or new built environments.
Sky Tower
The Sky Tower at University Hospital opened in April 2014, and is a 1.1 million square foot building. Each patient room includes a piece of hand-made glass, visible from the patient’s bed and family area. There are now over 3,000 pieces of artwork, growing from the original 1,200 when the building first opened.
Robert B. Green Clinical Pavilion
The six-story Robert B. Green Clinical Pavilion opened in January 2013 and contains over 450 pieces of art. Two signature pieces of art are “Life in Light” by Cathy Cunningham Little and Ned Kahn’s “Feather Wall” which create a peaceful, welcoming environment.
We are looking for musicians to play at University Health. Please contact us for more information.
If selected, musicians will need to register as vendors at University Health. Learn more about our vendor program.