Ohio City Health Center Art Celebrates 'Unity in Diversity'

At MetroHealth, we’re about more than medical care. We believe in lifting communities.

One way we do that is through the arts.

Look no further than the diverse collection taking shape at our new Ohio City Health Center at Urban Community School. About 80% of the art at the facility comes from local artists or those with Cleveland connections, including many from the West Side neighborhoods served by the new health center.

“We’re always looking to support local artists as much as we can,” said Linda Jackson, Director of Arts in Health at MetroHealth. “The coronavirus pandemic has impacted many of their livelihoods, but we’ve been able to provide them with some much-needed revenue at this very difficult time.”

Curated and procured by Jackson’s Arts in Health team and LAND studio, the Ohio City collection carries the theme “Unity in Diversity.” The theme emerged after brainstorming sessions with various stakeholders – patients, community partners and MetroHealth caregivers.

It’s a fitting theme for the collection given the rich diversity – racially, ethnically and culturally – of the Ohio City neighborhood. It also reflects the diverse roster of services offered at the facility.

As for the unity piece, look to the partnership between UCS and MetroHealth – one rooted in a shared vision for the improving the health of the community.

“We want people to feel like they belong and that they’re welcome here,” Jackson added. “Artwork can play just as significant a role in that as it does in healing.”