«Music expresses that which cannot be said
and what is impossible to keep silent about.»
Victor hugo
Our Mission
Founded in Geneva on 31 July 2008, the Fondation ART-THERAPIE is a recognised non-profit organisation.
The objective of the foundation is to promote art and music therapy programmes that facilitate the recovery of seriously ill hospitalised children, newborns and adolescents in hospitals in Aarau, Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Winterthur, Zollikerberg and Zurich.
Additionally, the Foundation reviews and responds to any request from hospitals wishing to join these programmes.
Our Values
The ART-THERAPY Foundation aims to provide access to art and music therapy to the greatest possible number of children who have had accidents, are ill or hospitalised, in order to contribute to their recovery. By ensuring the care necessary for the health and well-being of children, it is in line with the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- We support art and music therapy programmes for children hospitalised in hospital and other care facilities in Switzerland.
- We contribute to studies and scientific research in the field of art and music therapy.
- We contribute to the recognition and awareness of art and music therapy in medical circles as well as among the general public, as an innovative supplement to medical care measures for seriously ill children.
- We promote exchange between all participants who are active in art and music therapy.
Mitglied von proFonds, Schweizerischer Dachverband für gemeinnützige Stiftungen und Vereine.

The Foundation is reorganising its administration to meet increasing demands (additional partner hospitals, additional programmes).
New music therapy programmes at the CHUV: Day centres at SUPEA for children and scientific study “40Hz” for mentally ill adolescents.

Covid-19 Pandemie
The Board of Trustees is renewed.
Christmas promotions: Hermès sells its “carré généreux” for the benefit of the Foundation and the proceeds of the “Art for Children” auction go to the Foundation.
Two new partner hospitals: Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne (LUKS) and the Cantonal Hospital of Fribourg.

The prestigious magazine “National Geographic” classifies the results of the study on premature babies at HUG as one of the twelve innovations that will revolutionise the future of medicine.
Start of the “Dysgraphia” programme at the Regional Hospital of Lugano.

Ten years of the Foundation:
22,200 patients, 50,600 sessions and 67,100 hours of therapies, 16 programmes.
Fifth anniversary art therapy symposium at the Paul Klee Centre, Bern with 120 participants (lectures, workshops, panel discussions).
Start of collaboration with the department “Développement et Croissance (Development and Growth)” at the HUG (Prof. Hüppi) for the research project on the effect of music on the development of extremely premature babies.

The “Schema corporeo (Body plan)” programme starts in Lugano (EOC).
Prof. Jean-Luc Sudres presents the initial results of the first multicentre study in Switzerland on the effect of art therapy on disturbed eating behaviour in adolescents, carried out in the hospitals of Geneva, Lugano and Winterthur.


Foundation of the Patronage Committee with Valery Gergiev, Sol Gabetta, Elizabeth Sombart and Petula Clark.

First symposium with 19 art and music therapists at the Swiss Institute for Art Studies SIK in Zurich.
The painter Michel Huélin designed the cover for the CD “Butterfly in the snow” and for the documentary film “Creativity heals”.
Three more hospitals join the foundation: The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Switzerland in St. Gallen, the Cantonal Hospital in Baden and the Cantonal Hospital in the Grisons.

The director J.J. Goosens, Brussels, produces the documentary film “Creativity Heals”.
During Manor’s anniversary Christmas campaign, 48,500 plush bears are being sold for the benefits of the foundation.
The legendary singer-songwriter Petula Clark composes the song “Butterfly in the snow” for the foundation. ((link to song))
The first newsletter is published, followed by two to three per year.
Six hospitals set up the ART-THERAPIE foundation on the initiative of Charlotte Leber: University Children’s Hospital of Basel (UKBB), University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), University Hospital Centre of Vaud (CHUV), Regional Hospital of Lugano (EOC), Winterthur Cantonal Hospital (KSW), Zurich University Children’s Hospital (KISPI).
The general management of BNP Paribas, where Charlotte Leber works, supports an art therapy pilot project.
We look forward to seeing you!
HEAD OFFICE
Fondation ART-THERAPIE
Rue de Beaumont 11
CH-1206 Genève
+41 78 838 24 26
info(a)arttherapie.org
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