Art pilot project reimagines patient rooms at HSC Children’s Hospital

A pop-up replica of a renovated room at HSC Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba)

Grab your paintbrush -- The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is calling on Canadian artists to help transform CK5, the childhood cancer, blood disorders and transplants ward at HSC Children’s Hospital.

“We just put out the calls to artists today to see what creativity exists out there, throughout Manitoba. And also not just Manitoba, our kids that are served through our hospital come from as far away as Nunavut and as far east as Thunder Bay,” explained Stefano Grande, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. “We want to engage artists in those communities that can bring their creativity, bring their imagination to help to design and improve the experience of the kids, the caregivers, and the families during their challenging times.”

According to the foundation, up to 20 artists will be chosen by an art committee (managed through Graffiti Art Programming) to create “nature-themed and child-friendly artwork” for the ward, which is currently undergoing a massive renovation project as part of broader revitalization campaign.

The goal of the pilot project is to help young patients, many of whom spend significant periods of time there receiving care, feel more at home in their spaces.

“CK5 is our cancer ward, and we see over 100 cancer patients every single year, and some of those kids and families stay months upon months,” said Grande.

With the ward currently under renovation, staffers realized there was a unique opportunity to do something special with the space.

“(CK5) is a place that has not been improved since the 80s,” said Grande. “As the hospital is undertaking capital improvements…our donors, and our frontline staff at the hospital also felt, ‘Let’s do something inspirational’ in terms of bringing art, and Manitoba art scenes, into these rooms, into these spaces, to bring some hope, bring some spirit, bring some smiles to the faces of these kids and the families and the caregivers during the hardest time, being here in the hospital and dealing with their medical issues.”

The art will be installed via decals.

“The intent is to see if our artist can create a digital copy of that art, and once it’s digitized, we would work with a local decal producer and install the artwork on one, or two, or all the walls, in a way that stimulates the creativity of the artist and inspires the child that, at times, sits in those rooms days upon days,” said Grande.

Construction is already underway on site, and the foundation hopes the artwork will be installed sometime in March or April.

“The art will flow throughout the hallways. The art will flow throughout a brand-new kitchen… The art will flow in the 15 rooms, in the spaces where the nurses and the doctors have lunch, and in the spaces where families congregate to watch movies. It’ll be an entire ward that will lift the spirits of kids who are dealing with some difficult challenges as they receive their medical care here at Children’s Hospital.”

Grande says a physical replica of a renovated hospital room is also viewable at Outlet Collection Winnipeg’s food court.

Artists can learn more about the project via graffitigallery.ca. and submission applications are due by Feb. 2.