Footscray Community Arts Named Official Arts Partner for Hospital Project in Australia

Footscray Community Arts has been named as the official arts partner of the New Footscray Hospital Project to help improve the health and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors.

Located in Victoria, Australia, the hospital-in-progress is set to open in 2025. It is being delivered by the Plenary Health consortium, in partnership with the Victorian Health Building Authority and Western Health. The three-year partnership aligns with the construction of Victoria’s most significant health infrastructure investment to date.  Area artists will be commissioned for the project to create a welcoming space for all.

Public art has been considered as part of the overall hospital design approach to help deliver an improvement in health and wellness. The design includes standalone works and immersive art forms in external and internal spaces.

Plenary Health New Footscray Hospital project chair, Kelvyn Lavelle, said the vision is to deliver a hospital in and of its community.

“We’re excited to come together with Footscray Community Arts to strengthen the new hospital’s connection with community and create positive experiences and spaces for patients, staff and visitors,” Lavelle said.

The new partnership is already working on a “Faces of Footscray” community photography series.

Located on the Maribyrnong River, Footscray Community Arts was established by the local community in 1974 and is one of the country’s longest running independent arts precincts. The organization works with a range of local artists in the west and prioritize the voices of artists from indigenous, migrant and refugee, disability and LGBTQIA+ communities.