Art Heals Project

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•      Marian Berg, the founder of the Art Heals Project, is licensed as a K-12 Art Educator in New Mexico and is also a Registered Nurse. Marian had a life-changing experience in Haiti while volunteering as a nurse with survivors of the devastating earthquake of 2010. In addition to her nursing duties, she was able to do artwork with some of the child survivors. Marian observed how artmaking helped the traumatized children following the earthquake and dreamt of offering this service to hospitalized children in the U.S.A.

•      After returning from Haiti, Marian finished her graduate work in Art Education. With the generous support of UNM Children’s Hospital, the New Mexico Art League, and Sandra Abruzzo, she started the pediatric Art Heals Project in 2013. This outreach project provides art experiences for hospitalized children, especially those with contagious and/or life-threatening illnesses. Working closely with the UNM Children’s Hospital Child Life Department, Marian has visited over ten thousand children in their hospital rooms with her mobile art cart to offer art activities. Marian also leads art groups for patients at the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital.

•      Marian was designated a Local Treasure by the Albuquerque Art Business Association in 2015. From 2017-18, she studied over 200 children in a hospital-approved research project which concluded that artmaking was beneficial and promoted relaxation and stress relief: https://www.mathewsopenaccess.com/scholarly-articles/effects-of-art-experience-on-hospitalized-pediatric-patients.pdf

•      The Art Heals Project focuses on encouraging and nurturing the unique creative abilities of each hospitalized child and providing an avenue for creative expression. Creative work in the medical setting can assist in promoting a sense of hope, autonomy, competence, and an increase in self-esteem for the child.