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New artwork at Hay Health Service welcomes all


Thursday 5 May 2022

A new artwork by Wiradjuri artist, Owen Lyons has been installed in the reception area of Hay Health Service, welcoming patients, staff, and visitors as they enter the new facility.  

Commissioned by Health Infrastructure and Murrumbidgee Local Health District, the artwork tells the story of the surrounding landscape including the Hay night sky, the Murrumbidgee River as it winds through Hay, and the indigenous totem, the goanna.  

The local community also had a hand in the formation of this art piece, providing conceptual ideas during a facilitated consultation session at the local art studio, The Spot. Local high school student and keen artist, Emma Johnstone also contributed to the artwork as part of a mentoring session with the artist.  

Health Infrastructure’s Arts Program Director, Brigette Uren said the artwork was commissioned to provide a warm welcome to the Wiradjuri and Nari Nari peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the land, past, present, and future and acknowledge today’s Hay community and the many people seeking care at the hospital.  

“Visiting a hospital is often a stressful experience and art can help to make it feel less daunting. We know that art can also improve clinical health and wellbeing outcomes,” Ms Uren said.  

“It’s great when we can get the community involved in creating art – it brings people together, builds community resilience and gives the health service and community a legacy they can call their own.”  

Health Infrastructure’s Arts in Health Program integrates arts into NSW Health infrastructure projects to create engaging public health spaces and improve clinical health and wellbeing outcomes for patients, staff and visitors.  

The Arts in Health Program is delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with Local Health Districts, artists, and communities as part of NSW Health’s $10.8 billion capital works program to 2024. 

Delivered under the NSW Government’s $297 million Multipurpose Service Program (MPS), the newly expanded Hay Health Service was completed in September 2021

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