Nearly 600 works of art will contribute to new Clinic and Specialty Center’s healing environment

As progress continues on our new Clinic and Specialty Center opening in spring 2018, we’re now starting to visualize what the finished environment will look like. While colors and finishes are going up on the walls, Inspire Arts coordinator Wenda Ballinger, art consultant Vicki Hovde, and a special art task force comprised of patients, employees, artists, and community members are hard at work planning for the artwork that will help make the environment one that is truly healing and embraces our community. In all, there will be 252 public works of art and over 320 pieces for individual exam and procedure rooms that will evoke messages of healthy living, hope, and healing.

No longer considered “nice to have” decoration, art is now understood to be a vital part of the healthcare environment. Studies have proven that integrating the arts into healthcare settings cultivates a healing environment; supports the physical, mental, and emotional recovery of patients and families; and fosters a positive environment for caregivers that reduces stress and improves workplace satisfaction and employee retention. Using carefully selected works of art can positively change how we feel and relate to each other and even increase patient satisfaction scores.

The overall theme for the Center’s artwork is The Art of Life, which reflects and supports HCMC’s new tagline “We’re here for life.” The selected art will use imagery and conceptual content to capture and express the healing energy of nature, or the life-affirming connections we make with others, highlighting the diversity of our personal and shared life stories.

A Call for Artists has been released to the community that requests proposals for site-specific art and examples of artwork from local, Minnesota, and regional artists from which to choose art for the building. For more information, review the application materials or email [email protected].

Funding for artwork comes from Hennepin County bonded capital construction funds and donations given to Hennepin Health Foundation for the project. Similar healing concepts will be applied to vacated spaces on the existing downtown campus as they are remodeled.