Nourishing well-being through the arts.
The mission of Center Stage arts in health is to enhance our healthcare community with arts that calm, nurture and inspire. Our primary purpose is to humanize the medical center experience by providing opportunities for patients, caregivers, family members, employees and students and health care professionals to engage with the arts.
Summary History:
Center Stage launched in early 2011 after Claire de Boer, an informal visiting musician, recognized the need for a streamlined arts organization in the Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center. She researched the field of arts in health across the nation and tailored a proposal to the culture of this medical center to present to hospital administration. Leadership supported the value of an arts program and committed a small operating budget and modest part-time salary for the start. Beginning with live music in waiting areas, Center Stage expanded to include a permanent art collection, rotating original art exhibits in waiting rooms, art therapy, and patient and employee art opportunities. Arts programs have grown and have become an integral part of our medical center experience.
Center Stage now encompasses a team of 7 art professionals.
