Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation Unveil ‘Wall of Roses' Student Mural

400 School Children Create Mural of Clay Roses on Display at Abu Dhabi’s Flagship Healthcare Facility;

Art in Hospitals Helps Develop an Environment of Healing: Deputy COO

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), managed by the Cleveland Clinic, will be hosting Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) Wall of Roses student mural, unveiled today at the hospital.

The mural was created in partnership with Abu Dhabi Art Hub with 400 school children aged 12 to 17 years old in Abu Dhabi. Each student learned how to make roses using polymer clay, which were then glazed in different colours and developed into a mural portraying young children.

Hosting the mural is part of SKMC’s philosophy of putting patients first, and is one of many activities at the hospital designed to provide more than medical care to patients living with illness.

“The healing process is not only about providing a setting of care of the highest quality to patients, but also enhance their quality of life. The use of art and music in therapy can be used to help encourage emotional expression, promote interaction, relieve symptoms, and can certainly be help them heal their spirits. Art in the hospital helps to develop an environment of healing, and creates a safe, comfortable and spiritual space for the healing process,” said Salama Al Haj, Deputy Chief Operating Officer, SKMC.

“The arts, in all its varied forms, are known to positively impact patients and it is with this knowledge and the experience we have amassed over the last six years that we remain firmly committed to bringing music to medical institutions like the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City for the betterment of all, said H.E. Hoda I. Al Khamis - Kanoo, Founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) and the Abu Dhabi Festival.

At the Abu Dhabi Festival, we believe that the birth of great ideas can come from everybody. Such ideas cannot exist unless we are open to innovation and embrace the convergence of ideas, knowledge and science. This generates a new creativity that impacts all spheres of today’s society. Through creativity, we believe in nurturing an environment of dialogue, understanding and co-existence, which leads to a sustainable cultural movement, particularly involving the young generation.” She added

SKMC, managed by Cleveland Clinic, is part of the SEHA HealthSystem and owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA), which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.