Nemours Builds Community With Local Museum Partnerships
Nemours Children’s Hospital Orlando is building relationships with innovative and cost-effective art programs that benefit patients, families, visitors and the local art community. Through the scope of our work with Nemours, Distinctive Art Source enjoyed the opportunity to conceptualize and coordinate several museum partnerships that will continue to foster mutually-beneficial relationships between the hospital and the community for years to come.
Orlando Museum of Art
Storytelling is one of the oldest art forms in existence – and one that most children treasure. Early on in our consulting process, Distinctive Art Source discovered that Nemours Children’s Hospital is fortunate to have the support of some of the area’s best in the field through collaboration with the Orlando Museum of Art.
OMA is home to local storytellers and performers who inspire and enthrall their audiences. Through the efforts of the NCH Art Committee, the museum generously agreed to bring their experts on site for special storytelling events in 2013. Working with the Child Life Department, OMA will present quarterly workshops and activities to entertain and engage children. Artwork created at the OMA Storytelling workshops will be featured in the Illustrator Gallery on the 4th floor.
Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art
If you’ve ever visited the Morse Museum of American Art, you know it is home to the largest most comprehensive collection of works Louis Comfort Tiffany and is a peaceful respite of wonder and beauty. The DAS team was impressed on our first visit and immediately began seeing the possibilities for collaboration. The staff at the museum understands the importance of creating environments and wants to share their world class museum with patients and visitors at Nemours.
After DAS outlined several options, the Morse Museum graciously offered to support Nemours’ commitment to education by providing quarterly art and educational events on the hospital campus and by contributing art education videos for patient and visitor viewing. The Morse Museum also welcomes any Nemours’ patient and family to take a break for a few hours and enjoy the museum at no charge.
Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens
The Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens welcomed collaboration with Nemours Children’s Hospital and generously agreed to lend the expertise of their master gardeners, who beautifully maintain three acres of perfectly manicured gardens with the help of a volunteer team. Master Gardeners and volunteers from the Polasek Museum will help teach the Nemours’ staff to care for the hospital gardens.
In addition, the DAS team worked closely with the Polasek Museum to secure the contribution of “Elizabeth,” a life size bronze sculpture of a 6 ear old girl, as a permanent gift to Nemours Children’s Hospital’s Art Program. Albin Polasek created “Elizabeth” in 1956 after he suffered a stroke that paralyzed the left side of his body, sculpting an exquisite work with only one hand. Elizabeth is now a beautiful inspiration as she stands under the reading tree on 4th floor therapy roof garden.
Mennello Museum of American Art
One of the things we enjoy most about our work at Distinctive Art Source is discovering unique art options in local communities. Nemours is pleased to collaborate with the Mennello Museum of American Art on an ongoing rotating art gallery located on the 3rd floor inpatient corridor. The gallery opened in October features multiple works by Earl Cunningham and multiple other, dimensional Florida folk artists. Frank Holt, executive director of the Mennello Museum, curates the gallery along with his staff.