Local Canberra artists are being encouraged to put their thinking caps on and come up with ideas to enhance the Canberra Hospital Expansion as Major Projects Canberra begins the search for an expert art consultant to lead the project’s art strategy.
Announced by Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith, public artwork within the hospital is to enhance the wellbeing of people using the new Critical Services Building.
“We’re working to make the Canberra Hospital Expansion a place that supports patients, families, carers and staff, creating a welcoming and healing environment for all hospital users and building an inclusive sense of community,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“The artwork commissioning will see art installed as an integral part of internal public spaces such as the new Welcome Hall and in courtyards surrounding the facility where patients, visitors and staff will come to meet, reflect and take some time out,” she said.
“Community input into this new facility, including from health care consumers, carers and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, is vitally important.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said she wanted the community to have the chance to put their stamp on the new facilities that they would be using.
Minister for the Arts, Tara Cheyne welcomed the initiative and said it was a great chance for the local arts community to get involved.
“The Canberra Hospital Expansion is a once-in-a-generation chance for the ACT arts community to contribute to the future wellbeing of our city and create and enhance spaces that people interact with every day, sometimes at their worst and best moments,” Ms Cheyne said.
“I encourage our arts community to start thinking now about what types of art would enhance the new facility and how they might like to get involved.”
She said more details about how local artists and groups could get involved in the initiative would be released next year, following the appointment of the art consultant.
