Integration of the arts is being planned on a grand scale as part of the $632 million stage two Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment to support the health and wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff.
Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals general manager Alison Derrett says the redevelopment’s arts and culture strategy aimed to create and design a hospital that was welcoming and supported cohesive community values.
“Hospitals can be places of great joy, but also places of sadness. With that in mind, we wanted to utilise art in a way that supports health and wellbeing and nurtures recovery,” Ms Derrett said.
“The redevelopment project allowed us to look at how we could incorporate the arts holistically, from the installation of artworks on walls and the creation of healing spaces, through to the use of imagery to help our patients and community members find their way around the hospital.
“Developed in consultation with the Macarthur community and traditional owners, the various components of the strategy will help deliver a welcoming, comforting hospital that is representative of our entire community.”
Campbelltown arts centre director Michael Dagostino said the importance of art in the community was premised on building social cohesion around common themes.
“We’ve been working in collaboration with Campbelltown Hospital to design and create civic spaces where everybody feels completely welcome,” he said.
“Through art we are producing spaces and places that people can connect with, as well as providing a platform through which we can educate the community about the history of the Macarthur region and the traditional owners, and that’s a really special thing.”
Arts working groups have been held with the community to develop concepts and explore how art could be framed to support patients and the community.
The resulting arts strategy includes large format murals, installations, and Indigenous representation through land and tribe totems which were developed in consultation with the local Dharawal people.
