Arts and culture strategy to create dynamic, vibrant and innovative Westmead

The $1 billion Westmead Redevelopment project has launched its arts and culture strategy, aimed at transforming experiences at Westmead through the arts across healthcare, education, training, research and well-being.

The strategy – a partnership between Western Sydney Local Health District, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the University of Sydney – is designed to embed arts and culture into the fabric of the Westmead precinct, including its new hospital building and refurbished spaces.

Fourteen projects have already been endorsed for the new facility, with exciting art work set to adorn new clinical spaces, waiting areas, the new plaza forecourt and the Innovation Centre. Patients, visitors and staff will enjoy a diverse range of art works including sculptures, digital pieces, music, soundscapes and curated collections from museums and universities.

Westmead Redevelopment project director Matt Vizard said the project team and Health and Arts Research Centre (HARC), who have been engaged to develop and implement the strategy, had worked with more than 1000 patients, carers, staff members, students, researchers and local artists to create a strategy offering art for, and inspired by, the community.

“People have told us that art is crucial to creating a welcoming, safe and connected environment and helping to reassure during difficult, and often stressful times,” he said.

“We have looked at how we can weave arts and culture into the new building by going floor-by-floor and identifying locations where art would really benefit our community.”

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network director of community relations and marketing Gilly Paxton said the arts and culture program had been a great example of the organisations involved in the Westmead Redevelopment project working together to enhance the patient and family experience.

“Our existing art programs are important in creating a healing environment that reflects our diverse community, so we’ve really looked at projects and art works that share that vision,” she said.

“Art and culture, as a way of exchanging ideas and celebrating people, place and health, will be an important part of Westmead’s future.”

To find out more about the strategy and the projects, go to: http://www.westmeadproject.health.nsw.gov.au/get-involved/arts-and-culture-strategy

Read more about the Westmead Redevelopment project.