Center Stage Bestows Second Annual Art Champion Award
Center Stage Arts in Health partners with our institution’s departments to offer meaningful arts engagements to our workforce. Members of each department know what might work the best for their coworkers. Each department identifies an “Art Champion” who acts as the Center Stage contact person for artistic offerings for the unit.
Director of Center Stage Arts in Health Claire de Boer says, “This was one of the initiatives that was sparked by the challenges of the pandemic. We started the Art Champion program so that employees act as a contact point for available arts for wellness for their unit. The arts offer ways to relax, connect with others, and find positive distraction during stressful times. Art Champions have been ambassadors to bring the arts to the patients and employees in their departments in ways that make sense for their specific area.”
Each year, an Art Champion of the Year is selected for outstanding service in this role. Center Stage presented Ann Smith Gregoire, Nurse Practitioner, in the Surgery Oncology unit with the second annual “Art Champion of the Year” award for 2022.
Annie said, “I am so delighted to be honored with an award that means so much to me! The personalization of patient care is crucial and the arts offer so much to patients and families! … I value so much all that you do for us and look forward to future collaboration.”
Center Stage provided the Surgery Oncology unit with art kits for their patients and team members as well as other offerings to accentuate their special events. Annie’s award selection was based on her valued work with Center Stage throughout the year including distributing art kits and having live music at several events. She also shared “Weekly Wellness Highlights,” monthly music schedules, and featured Arts in Health programs with her unit.
As the recipient of this award, Annie was gifted a giclée print of art by one of the Center Stage artists. She chose “I Dreamed of Gliding” by John Pompeo as it immediately resonated with her love of the beach. “So lovely and makes me dream of Ocean City, New Jersey, every time I look at it. A beautiful addition for our home,” Annie says.
“We highly value the well-being of our dedicated workforce, and we strive to offer arts engagements to support it. The Art Champions are experts in the daily work life of their coworkers, and they serve as an invaluable resource to help us offer the best fit arts engagements for their unit. Annie is an example of an outstanding partner in this program,” says Claire.
Annie’s work was one of the many projects that arose from the Art Champion program. See also “fingerprint article.”
Interested in serving as an Art Champion?
You will partner with Center Stage to:
- Select optimal art for wellness workshops and projects for your team.
- Distribute art materials.
- Organize sharing of iPads (if available) to share arts online with patients.
- Provide feedback from your unit on Art for Wellness projects.
- Liaise with nurse manager to inform us of your Arts in Wellness activities.
Email centerstage@pennstatehealth.psu.edu for more information.