history of the creative center

HISTORY

Founded in 1994 on the belief that "medicine cures the body, but art heals the spirit." The Creative Center began as a series of free art workshops for women with cancer. Nearly 30 years later, with immeasurable recognition in the field of arts in healthcare and the nonprofit sector, The Creative Center is proud to serve people of all genders and all ages 18+. We do this by offering:  

  • Hospital Artist-in-Residence Programs within the New York metropolitan area 

  • Free online art workshops five days a week  

  • Our Training Institute, held annually in the Fall 

  • Private consulting to a robust roster of artists and administrators who are eager to implement our time-tested methods. 

In 2011, The Creative Center became a program of the University Settlement and expanded into the growing field of creative aging. We began putting into practice what recent research demonstrated: in addition to providing opportunities for self-expression, arts activities and experiences have measurable health benefits for older adults at all stages of the aging continuum, enabling them to live better and healthier lives. 

University Settlement forges relationships between neighbors to build stronger communities, partnering with more than 40,000 New Yorkers on the Lower East Side and in Brooklyn every year. University Settlement’s offerings include arts programs, support for the aging, early childhood and youth development, mental health and wellness, eviction prevention and benefits assistance, adult literacy, and community and recreation centers. Through these programs, USS works to address many of the inequities caused by social determinants of health that result from historically rooted injustices, such as access to quality healthcare, education, and shelter. The Creative Center is proud to be part of University Settlement, the oldest settlement house in the United States. Click here to learn more about the University Settlement.

Click on each decade below to learn more about our history.

  • 1994

    The Creative Center was founded by Geraldine Herbert, a psychiatric social worker, and Adrienne Assail, an attorney and songwriter, on the belief that “Medicine cures the body, but art heals the spirit.” Joined quickly thereafter by Robin Glazer, artist, art educator, and cancer survivor, the organization began as a series of free-of-charge art workshops initially only for women with cancer, taught by professional artists in borrowed office space.

    1996

    We expanded our programming to include people of all gender expressions.

    1998

    The Creative Center settles into its first home in a 3,000sf loft in Chelsea.

    1999

    Our first Hospital Artist-in-Residence Program starts in an inpatient oncology unit at Lenox Hill Hospital, stemming directly from workshop participant feedback about when and where our services could be most effective.

  • 2000

    Hospital Artist-In-Residence Program is now in eight New York City hospitals including Bellevue, the largest public hospital in the United States.

    2002
    We receive United Hospitals Fund grant to support the Patient and Staff Satisfaction Assessment of the Hospital Artist-In-Residence Program at six NYC hospitals. Our Training Institute for Artists and Administrators in Arts-In-Healthcare is established.”

    2005
    Hospital Artist-In-Residence Program expands to 15 healthcare sites.

    2006
    Publication of our book, Hospital Artists-In-Residence: The Creative Center's Approach to Arts-In-Healthcare, funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Additionally, a two-year documentary photography project, Still Life, funded by Lance Armstrong Foundation, resulted in the publication of a book and study guide for replication of the project.

    2008

    The Creative Center moves to a rented space at University Settlement on Bowery and Houston on the Lower East Side in New York City.

    2009
    The Creative Center is named a Best Practice Site by the NEA

    2009
    Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing initiates an Artist-In-Residence Program with The Creative Center.

  • 2010
    National replication of our Hospital Artist-In-Residence Program begins in 40 US hospitals, funded by the LIVESTRONG Foundation.

    2011
    Merged with University Settlement, the oldest settlement house in the United States where The Creative Center is now integrated throughout University Settlement's senior programming. Our first Creative Aging Programs begin in multiple community sites across New York City.

    2012
    National replication of our Art Workshop Program for people with cancer is seen in 20 community sites across the US, funded by the LIVESTRONG Foundation

    2013
    The Creative Center begins consulting services delivered to healthcare systems and arts organizations across the United States with organizations including the Veterans Administration, Rutgers Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Children's Center, and more.

    2017

    We receive our first of many Su Casa awards to provide arts programming in New York City at multiple senior center locations.

    2019

    Hospital Artist-In-Residence Programs are now in more than 30 sites within the NYC hospital system including Bellevue, Woodhull, New York Presbyterian, NYU Langone, Mount Sinai Hospitals, and the Bronxcare Health System

  • 2020
    Our art workshops transition to an all-virtual modality, delivered via Zoom due to COVID-19, extending our reach to more than 3,000 additional participants across the United States and internationally.

    2022
    Our programs have expanded to include a nationally-recognized Hospital Artist-In-Residence Program (2000) daily, free-of-charge art workshops online and in person, and our annual Training Institute, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, bringing The Creative Center's proven approach to arts-in-healthcare and creative aging around the country. We also offer consulting services to healthcare and community organizations locally and across the United States.