The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund has awarded The Creative Center at University Settlement a significant grant over two years, the nation’s first settlement house announced today.
The Creative Center was founded on the belief that “medicine cures the body, but art heals the spirit.” Its programs include Hospital Artists-in-Residence (AIR) that bring arts instruction to patients, caregivers, and medical professionals at 10 partner hospitals, daily in-person and virtual Arts Workshops, Creative Aging consulting, and an annual Training Institute for Artists and Administrators in Arts-in-Healthcare and Creative Aging.
The grant will support The Creative Center’s programs generally, with particular emphasis on the Hospital AIR program as well as its Creative Aging consulting work.
“Decades of research strongly demonstrates that the arts have an important role to play in reducing stress, helping individuals in their healing process and in building healthier communities,” said Laurie M. Tisch, founder and president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “The Creative Center at University Settlement has long been a leader in this field, and we’re pleased to expand our partnership and help increase access to these services to more people and communities who can benefit.”
“Although we know that arts-in-healthcare and creative aging programs make a positive impact in patients’ lives and prognoses, most existing programs remain private and expensive,” said Melissa Aase, CEO, University Settlement. “With the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund’s investment, The Creative Center will continue to address this inequity by intentionally connecting to diverse communities marginalized by systemic healthcare disparities. Our freshly expanded partnership will also ensure that each of The Creative Center’s programs are able to continue sustainably.”