Art therapy workshop sparks hope for cancer patients in Saudi Arabia

DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia (MNTV) — King Fahd University Hospital in the Eastern Province launched a year-long cultural program on Wednesday aimed at supporting cancer patients and survivors through art therapy, offering monthly sessions designed to strengthen emotional well-being alongside medical treatment.

The first session, held in collaboration with Kalimat House and the Sawn Project, was led by local artist Hanan Al-Ateeq and brought together women ranging from cancer survivors to patients who arrived directly from chemotherapy, creating a space for social connection, emotional expression and creative healing.

Participants initially arrived quietly and hesitantly, but the room gradually filled with color, laughter and conversation as they began painting, mixing shades, and rediscovering the joy of artistic expression. Despite some accidental splashes of paint on abayas, the atmosphere remained light, with soothing music and prayer breaks helping to create a calm and supportive environment.

The initiative was founded by Lina Al-Muhanna, director of the Sawn Project, who said the program emerged from her personal experience supporting her father during his long cancer battle. She described the project as a response to the emotional isolation often faced by patients, providing a space for human connection and creative release beyond hospital walls.

“Today, I honestly feel happy from the very beginning, because Sawn is a dream initiative that I founded,” Al-Muhanna said, explaining that the program aims to help patients accept their condition and improve healing through emotional support, alongside their medical treatment.

The program includes group sessions and workshops that focus on care, solidarity and encouragement. Al-Muhanna said the initiative was developed in coordination with the hospital after identifying a gap in patient support, and she highlighted a patient who attended the session despite feeling unwell after chemotherapy, painting in bright pink as a sign of renewed hope.

Kalimat House, the cultural partner for the initiative, said arts and culture are essential tools for self-expression and emotional recovery. The organization’s co-founder Anfal Al-Hammad emphasized that the program offers patients a creative outlet to express pain, emotions and strength through art, while also supporting their healing journey.

Facilitator Hanan Al-Ateeq described her own relationship with art as a healing process, noting that she returned to painting after a period of mourning following her mother’s death. She said her workshops focus on removing perfectionism and encouraging instinctive creativity, allowing participants to express emotions through painting when words are difficult.

Al-Ateeq explained that observation is a key part of her approach, as participants’ movements, color choices and hesitations often reveal inner states more honestly than conversation. She said many patients paint darker scenes when feeling pain, while others in recovery create brighter images of sun and nature.

The workshop was designed specifically for Saudi women undergoing cancer treatment or recovery, with Al-Ateeq noting that many participants feel unheard and carry emotional burdens. She said therapy can be gentle, joyful and creative, and the goal is to create a safe space where participants leave feeling transformed.

One participant, Samarh “um Turki” Al-Zahrani, described the session as energizing and inspiring, saying she felt a sense of closeness and friendship with the group. She added that she discovered hidden talents and left the workshop feeling renewed and hopeful.

Additional support for the program was provided by SMT Family Counseling Center, Estenarh, the Saudi Cancer Foundation, Al-Rashed Social Responsibility and Vibent, as the year-long initiative prepares to continue monthly art therapy sessions through December.