The Friends of Cooley Dickinson sponsor the ever-changing panorama of drawings, paintings, photographs, digital prints and other media that festoon the walls of the hospital’s North and West galleries, and also in the medical building at 22 Atwood Drive. Art displayed is by artists from the local community and rotates monthly to keep offerings fresh, maximize exposure for as many local artists as possible and to allow for celebratory monthly openings with food, drink and occasional live music.

All work in the galleries is for sale and benefits programs and services at the hospital and its satellite health care facilities. Artists receive the portion of proceeds not earmarked for donation.

Of course, the presence of art in our galleries is not by any means solely transactional–many people find art to be healing, transporting and even deeply evocative of feeling and emotion. Depictions of people, places and situations that might be familiar or otherwise meaningful can have a profound impact on someone walking or being wheeled down the hall. For patients and employees alike, the monthly rotation also keeps their environment dynamic, interesting, and rich in moments that many of us often don’t otherwise have the time to notice.