[Perspectives] Art and hope for children with cancer

Considering the crucial role of hope in the lives of children with cancer, as well as the function of art in illustrating health concepts, we held the Hope and Children with Cancer art festival at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Children with cancer, their families, hospital staff, and university students were invited to participate in the art festival through a variety of artistic activities with the concept of hope. These activities included visual arts (eg, handicrafts, painting, and photography), literature (writing about experiences or memories), performing arts (music, puppet shows, storytelling, singing, and a clown show), and celebration (birthdays, end of cancer treatments, head shaving, and other life celebrations).