Art Beyond Walls: Cooperation Between Ledina Hospital School and the Modern Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Art (MG+MSUM)
Art holds a special place in the Ledina Hospital School. Within the daily hospital routine, it creates a space where children can simply be children, curious and creative. Through art, they express their emotions, find moments of calm, strengthen their inner resilience, and develop their imagination. The emphasis is not on the finished product, but on the creative process itself; on exploration, experimentation, and personal growth.
Creative activities are a regular part of teaching in the Ledina Hospital School. Collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Modern Gallery (MG+MSUM) has further enriched art education in both content and professional depth, and represents an example of good practice in connecting the educational, healthcare, and cultural sectors. Museum educators design carefully planned workshops for hospital school students, introducing them to contemporary artists and their current exhibitions. In this way, they bring professional expertise, contemporary artistic approaches, and direct contact with current cultural events into the hospital environment.
The art workshops are adapted to the hospital setting and the specific needs of ill children. The choice of materials, organisation of activities, and duration of sessions allow all hospitalised children to participate., including those in isolation rooms or with physical impairments. Museum educators bring art reproductions, photographs, short video materials, and tools suitable for bedside work to the wards. Each workshop begins with a discussion about a selected artist and an introduction to an exhibition in the museum or gallery, followed by the creative phase. Thoughtfully designed activities ensure that children are not merely observers but active creators. Students take photographs, record short videos, draw, cut and paste, assemble, shape soft or rigid materials, sew, or create simple three-dimensional objects. Tasks are open-ended and process-oriented, encouraging exploration rather than perfection. Every artwork is met with praise and encouragement, and children may choose to display their work on the ward. In some cases, their artworks have also been presented in museum exhibition spaces, further strengthening their sense of recognition, confidence, and belonging.
Students undergoing rehabilitation at the University Rehabilitation Institute Soča experience art in an authentic gallery setting. Accompanied by hospital teachers, they visit exhibitions and participate in adapted workshops led by museum educators. Such visits provide direct contact with art and foster a sense of inclusion in the wider cultural community.
Long-term collaboration between the hospital school and MG+MSUM extends beyond cultural education. The regular involvement of museum educators in the hospital environment has established a sustainable partnership that enhances the quality of educational work and enriches the learning experiences of long-term patients. Art provides children with a temporary respite from illness and medical procedures, helps relieve tension, and restores a sense of normality. Through these experiences, children experience success, build self-confidence, and maintain their curiosity about the world. This partnership illustrates the value of cooperation between cultural and healthcare institutions in supporting children’s well-being during medical treatment.
Ana Dobovičnik, specialna pedagoginja
OŠ Ledina, bolnišnična šola
ana.dobovicnik@bolnisnicna-sola.si
Title Art Beyond Walls_1: Museum Educators – Learning about Artists
Through discussion, visual materials, and a video presentation, the museum educators introduced us to the lives and work of various artists.
Title Art Beyond Walls_2: Painting – Still Life
We painted a still life and explored the relationships between shapes, colors, and composition.
Title Art Beyond Walls_3: Printmaking Workshop – Simple Printing Technique
Using a simple printing technique, we rolled out ink and printed shapes to create New Year’s greeting cards while learning about the printmaking process.
Title Art Beyond Walls_4: Applied Art – Felt Bags
Through cutting, gluing, and sewing, we created unique felt bags and combined creativity with functionality.
Ana Dobovicnik (from Slovenia)
Email address: ana.dobovicnik@bolnisnicna-sola.si
