Imagine entering a hospital where there was no art. Thanks to the work of the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Art Collection program, the waiting rooms and corridors at Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre boast over 3,000 works of art that create a warm and welcoming environment for patients as well as staff.

The foundation’s Art Program was formed over 20 years ago with the purpose of building a collection to promote well-being, healing and recovery for patients, their families, staff and visitors. Since then, over 2,500 pieces of art have been donated and are displayed at VGH, UBC Hospital, GF Strong and numerous spaces and clinics throughout Vancouver Community. Recent scientific studies have shown that the presence of artwork in medical environments has positive benefits for all, including reducing stress and supporting faster recovery.

VPSA members had the opportunity to learn more about several pieces from the VGH collection at a recent tour led by VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Art Collection Curator Katharine Knowles. Sculptor David Robinson was also on the tour and talked about his sculpture Windward Calm in the Diamond Health Care Centre artium. David was inspired to create Windward Calm following cardiac surgery at VGH.

The collection runs from postmodern abstractions to coastal landscapes and includes contemporary works by prominent Canadian artists as well as internationally renowned ones such as Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol.

“This tour revealed VGH as a hidden art gallery,” said Dr. Fahreen Dossa, who was one of the VPSA members who took the tour. “The art curator’s [Katharine Knowles] passion and insight made the art feel alive, and its beauty and healing presence have stayed with me. I now notice it everywhere—it’s an experience I’d wholeheartedly repeat.”

Check out photos from the tour here.

Survey feedback

Six of the 12 VPSA members who attended the tour completed the post-event survey and gave the event enthusiastic thumbs up. Everyone strongly agreed that the event increased their awareness of the art at VGH, while five out of six strongly agreed that it helped build collegiality and supported their well-being. The tour also received a 100 per cent net promoter score—one of only four of VPSA’s events to receive such high praise.

Comments included:

• Fantastic event. I loved everything about it.
• This was one of the best events held yet by the VPSA. Suggest repeating next year as so many pieces of art still to view and discuss.
• Happy to do it again with version “B.” My eyes will be more widely open walking around in the future.
• This was an excellent event. The food was delicious and the art tour was so informative. With the extensive art collection at VGH, if this event was held again to discuss even more pieces, I would attend for sure.

Ideas for other events?

We want to hear from you about ideas for VPSA events and/or workshops. Share your brainwaves with us and we’ll direct your suggestion(s) to the relevant VPSA committee or task group for their consideration and action. Please complete this form. Let’s care, connect and collaborate!