The rationale for the virtual gallery
Art therapy is often a valuable component of the healthcare services provided in children’s hospitals. The advantages of art therapy include:
- fostering positive self-esteem in children;
- increasing a feeling of relaxation;
- cultivating the children’s emotional resilience and enhancing their quality of life;
- improving the children’s cognitive and sensory motor functions through self-expression.
By providing a virtual art gallery free of charge, children can gain a sense of accomplishment from seeing their creative artwork shared with their family, friends and wider community. A series of virtual exhibitions can be created (by year) for participating hospitals. Patient identity is protected since only the first name of the child is submitted by the parent or hospital. Links to social media enhance the size of the viewing audience for the children’s art.
In addition to the virtual gallery, children can enjoy the online language learning classes through art that are offered for both English and other languages including French, Spanish and Italian.
The Founders
The founders of this unique online art gallery for children’s hospitals are Élodie Margaux (Didi), Raymond Edward and Teddy Powell.
They are assisted by Robin Ruggles, recently retired from a career in international development where he served as a senior education advisor. He had multiple postings in Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America and has traveled to more than 100 countries. Robin received a PhD in education and also has numerous diplomas and certificates in TESOL and English for Specific Purposes.
Belen Ruggles is an artist who has studied in Colombia and Switzerland. She has had numerous international art exhibitions and has taught painting to both children and adults in the United States, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Bangladesh and Kenya.
Robin and Belen have two children and three grandchildren all with artistic talents.
For more information about the Children’s Art Gallery, kindly send an email to: childrenhospitalsart@gmail.com
