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Integrating arts into Queensland hospitals

Summary
What: The integration of arts into health infrastructure and facilities across Queensland.
Partners: Arts Queensland, Health Infrastructure Queensland, Children’s Health Queensland Arts in Health Consultancy
When: Current
Where: Statewide

Details
Arts Queensland, in partnership with the Children’s Health Queensland Arts in Health and Health Infrastructure Queensland (HIQ) is supporting Queensland Health projects in multiple locations across the state to integrate arts into the health infrastructure project portfolio.

The initiative offers a unique opportunity to reimagine how health infrastructure can create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces that promote health and wellbeing through the built environment. We are working collaboratively to apply best-practice arts in health principles across health infrastructure projects, bringing together different disciplines and contexts to share local stories through artwork, enhance patient and community wellbeing, and positively influence perceptions of care.

The initiative aligns with Queensland's Time to Shine, the Queensland Government’s 10-year strategy for arts and culture. It will create new opportunities for Queensland artists and creative businesses, broaden ways to share new Queensland works and creative experiences, and amplify social benefits of the arts and culture, including wellbeing and connection. As these projects progress, local artists and communities will have many opportunities to get involved.

Arts in Health: Principles and Practice

A new Arts in Health guideline is now available to support stakeholders to plan, design and deliver health facilities that include art, culture and creativity.

Developed by Health Infrastructure Queensland (HIQ) in partnership with Children’s Health Queensland and Arts Queensland, Arts in Health: Principles and practice is supported by a practical toolkit of templates, examples and resources to guide its use across projects.

Focused on infrastructure integration, Arts in Health: Principles and practice sets out a clear approach for incorporating arts across all project phases, from early planning through to design and delivery. It explains how artworks, cultural expression and creative spaces can be included in healthcare environments, with practical guidance to support consistent application.

Arts Queensland recognises that hospitals are more than clinical environments—they are shared public spaces where care, culture and community intersect. Alongside delivering vital health services, these environments present meaningful opportunities to embed creativity, support Queensland artists, and shape places that reflect the people and stories of their communities.

By integrating arts into health settings from the outset, pathways are created for artists to contribute their skills and perspectives to public infrastructure, fostering local employment, creative innovation and cultural expression. When delivered thoughtfully, Arts in Health initiatives can:

  • reduce stress and anxiety for patients, families and staff
  • support recovery and wellbeing
  • enhance patient and staff experience through engaging, human-centred environments
  • strengthen community connection and pride
  • reflect local identity and cultural heritage

Arts Queensland champions the early and meaningful integration of arts into health facility planning and design, ensuring creative outcomes are embedded, not added later. Collaboration with health partners, architects, artists and communities, helps to shape environments that are functional, welcoming and deeply connected to place.

Central to this approach is a commitment to local placemaking—working with Hospital and Health Services, artists and communities to create works that reflect the unique character, histories and aspirations of each location. This process strengthens community connection and fosters a sense of ownership and belonging within clinical spaces.

Culturally safe and inclusive practices are prioritised in Arts in Health by partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people with lived experience of illness or disability. By elevating these voices and supporting diverse artistic participation, we ensure that health environments represent Queensland’s diversity and help people feel welcome, safe and represented.

Arts in Health Community Surveys

Community feedback is an important part of the Arts in Health integration initiative. A number of Hospital and Health Services are undertaking public surveys to introduce the community, including health service staff and consumers, to the objectives of the Arts in Health components of an infrastructure project and to invite ideas, contributions and feedback from stakeholders and community members.

Where

Map showing Queensland hospitals integrating arts in health
Integrating arts into Queensland hospitals map

Image: Tony Albert (2014-2018), The Glad Tomorrow, [sculptural installation], Queensland Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.