Volcano Project launches at the University Hospital of Padua. This social art initiative, conceived by Beatrice Zagato, is being carried out in close collaboration with the University Hospital of Padua, which will host the project’s activities within its facilities.
Patients and healthcare workers are invited to embark on a unique artistic journey, where creative expression becomes a driving force for connection and humanization of patient care. Starting in February 2025 and for the following five months, the Padua Hospital will dedicate an entire area which will be transformed into a creative space, where medium-to-long-term patients can explore drawing, painting, and other forms of artistic expression. This space will not only be a place for creation, but also for dialogue and interaction, open to anyone who wishes to participate: patients, visitors and healthcare professionals alike.
Can creativity help us feel better? Can it spark inner strength, hope and break down the walls of isolation? These are the main questions at the heart of the project, which seeks to explore whether art and creativity can enrich the human experience even in its most challenging moments, providing a tool to reconnect with oneself and with others.
“Volcano,” explains Beatrice Zagato, “represents the energy and vitality that each of us holds, even in the most difficult times. It is the force that drives us to transform fragility into determination, which is the aim of this project. Creativity, with its universal language of light and color, helps us unlock this potential. This project for me is not only about art, but also about investigating the power of creativity: I don’t teach techniques, but rather try to spark a positive thought and encourage dialogue among people.”
The artworks created during the project will be gradually displayed within the same space, forming a visual journey that represents the project’s evolution. The aim is to foster a sense of community and hope, making time spent in the hospital meaningful and enriching.
The project will culminate in the creation of a final artwork by the artist, inspired by the drawings and messages of the patients. This piece will remain permanently on display in the hospital, serving as a symbol of strength, hope, and community.
Artist Beatrice Zagato’s career has always been marked by an approach that combines art, social research, and rights, using creativity as a tool to promote beauty and dialogue. Her works and projects, exhibited both in Italy and abroad, focus on the power of light and color as sources of energy and vitality.
“The Volcano Project does not merely aim to bring art into the hospital; it seeks to generate new connections among people, exploring the transformative potential of creativity,” explains Giuseppe Dal Ben, Director of AOUP Padua Hospital.
The project is made possible thanks to the generous support of: Bottega SpA; GB Termae Hotels; Franco Stevanato Foundation; Undici HP srl; Alì Supermarkets; Xylem Service Italia s.r.l.; Cefim srl; Longwave s.p.a.; Guidolin Giuseppe – Eco. G. s.r.l.; Dr. Giovanni La Scala Dental Studio; and a private donation in memory of Vittore Pagan.
Technical sponsor: SFP Associated Law Firm.
