Kids & Art Foundation
The Kids & Art Foundation uses the power of the arts and creativity to mitigate stress, anxiety and trauma induced from the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancer and other critical medical conditions. We seek to improve well-being during treatment, as survivors, and in bereavement. Together we use art for healing, to empower, encourage, and create memorable experiences.
Kids & Art Foundation was founded in 2008 by Purvi Shah, a parent whose child was diagnosed with cancer at age three. Her inspiration came after seeing the healing impact moments of art and creativity had on all of her family members while her son was in treatment for cancer.
“For Amaey cancer was an inconvenience, but art was an escape into a world he controlled and created. ” - Purvi Shah
Due to Covid-19, we have adapted our services to support the pediatric oncology community and all children dealing with critical medical conditions. During these difficult and uncertain times, we recognized the gap in services that exist and moved all our human-to-human art programs into an ArtKit which includes creative projects, art supplies, and all the support required to complete the project.
Regular creativity and artmaking can bring joy and relaxation to children - and give caregivers a break from being the around-the-clock support system. Amaeyzing ArtKits offer independent art experiences designed to inspire calm, self-expression, and fun. Each Amaeyzing ArtKit© is packed with care by the Kids & Art team in a manner that ensures the utmost safety and cleanliness of all materials provided.
Impact and reach of our Amaeyzing ArtKits© in 2022
Before Covid-19 our healing through arts program was in-person at Stanford Children's and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals in California. By 2020, we went from a local organization to a nationwide one. Kids & Art is now serving 22 treatment centers in 18 states and has distributed over 5700 ArtKits since 2021.
Amaeyzing ArtKit projects planned and designed by the Kids & Art Foundation
Iced Lemonade ArtKit video with artist Caroline Robins
Every Amaeyzing ArtKit© has a QR code that leads the patient to a video recording of that particular art project. The patient can follow the artist or work on their own with the help of the instruction card that is included in each ArtKit.
Amaeyzing ArtKits @Home©
We want to keep your patient child (and any siblings) connected to creative arts support each month by sending our Amaeyzing ArtKits© directly to your door! We send them to your home so young artists facing cancer or critical medical conditions have an outlet for creativity whenever it serves them best - while also providing you, the caregiver, time to focus on the many things requiring your attention, while knowing that your child is actively engaged in healing and thoughtful activities.
In July 2022 we launched our Amaeyzing ArtKits @Home© program specifically aimed at patients who are at home during their active cancer treatment. This pilot program is aimed at celebrating the patient and the siblings as artists. Each month the participating family receives a creative box from us
Our Amaeyzing ArtKits @Home© include the patient and their siblings. We know that the siblings are the silent warriors in the fight against cancer. While the patient goes in and out of treatment the siblings get shuttled around as well.
- The goal of this program is to provide healing through art directly to pediatric patients who are in active treatment across the country.
- Build an ongoing support relationship between pediatric patient families and Kids & Art.
- Expand awareness of Kids & Art programs by reaching new subscriber families.
"The ArtKits are providing opportunities for enjoyable activities while the kids are receiving chemotherapy infusions or blood transfusions and we are also encouraging kids and teens to focus on their assessment of how they are perceiving pain or discomfort both prior to and following their participation in the art activities. This self-assessment activity is supporting patients in developing their own nonpharmacological coping mechanisms that they can use in conjunction with their medical treatment. This is so empowering and promotes mastery over circumstances that can be seen as uncomfortable, painful, or difficult. “
- Tiffany, Child life Specialist, Children's Mississippi
For our Amaeyzing ArtKits @Home©, each month we will also highlight a “Featured Artist” with a bio, photo, and video. The featured artist will work on their interpretation of one of that month’s ArtKit projects, and in addition to sharing their project on a prerecorded video (a QR code for the video will be included), they will also provide a quick tour of their studio or art they are working on.
We also include a newsletter and postcard along with coloring pages and many more creative tools in the Amaeyzing ArtKits @Home© package.
Here below are a few photos of our patients sharing their work!
Testimonial from Shalene Hatton, Art Therapist at Benioff Children's Hospital, SF
Participation in the creation of art from a discipline chosen by a child allows them to have an engaging, purposeful, normalized childhood experience. Furthermore, creative art that aligns with the patient’s interests allows for the integration of personally motivating activity in the restricted hospital environment (Linhardt, 2020). Read our research report
Kids & Art Foundation is a California 501(c)3 nonprofit organization | EIN: 27-1415727 www.kidsandart.org | art@kidsandart.org | 650.877.2750
©2021 Kids & Art Foundation. Any reproduction or distribution of the Amaeyzing ArtKit/s (or any portion of it) requires the prior written approval of Kids & Art Foundation.