ARTS AND ENVIRONMENT

The new Mater Campus Hospital Development will be characterized by 'best practice' across a wide range of disciplines. Specific attention will be paid to ensuring that both hospitals are distinguished by the quality of the physical environment they provide for patients, staff and visitors. This commitment is in line with contemporary thinking and practice in the field of health care generally and of hospital design, in particular. More broadly, it reflects best practice in contemporary architecture and in the design of public buildings and spaces.

An Arts and Environment Programme will contribute to the wider design process and the particular contribution of the arts to the physical and psychological environment of the hospital will be reflected. This is in line with the developing international tradition of the arts in health care. The Arts and Environment programme will operate within the hospital and a User Group with an interest in this area is being established. One of the first projects is a major Percent for Art commission for the Decanting and Enabling Buildings.

Percent for Art commission for the Decanting and Enabling Buildings

Under the Percent for Art scheme, a number of artists have been commissioned to create artworks for the Hostel / Centre for Nurse Education buildings. The per cent for art scheme applies to all Government funded capital projects and allocates a certain amount of money for an artwork or project. It is an ancillary cost and does not come out of the budget for construction or equipping.

A Selection Panel, including representatives from both hospitals, the Department of Health and Children, MCHD and the Arts Council, shortlisted six artists from over 60 submissions. This shortlist developed proposals and three were chosen. The artists selected are Andrew Folan, who has created a sculptural installation in the lightwell of the Hostel building; Michael Durand, who is almost finished his photographic project with staff from both hospitals and Lucy Turner, who has created a print-based piece in collaboration with staff.

For further information about the Arts and Environment Programme, please contact:
Dara Carroll,
Arts & Environment Manager,
MCHD, 70 Eccles St, Dublin 7
T: 01 860 3600 or
E: dcarroll.mchd@mater.ie