The New Footscray Hospital
We are proud to be the official arts partner for the new Footscray Hospital. A three-year partnership dedicated to helping improve the health and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors.
We have curated a suite of exciting integrated public artworks, connecting artists with opportunities to create a calm and welcoming space for healing.
Artists with pre-existing connections to the west will be invited to delve into the history of the local area to discover, uncover and share its stories through their work.
The Curatorial Framework
Art at the new Footscray Hospital emerges from its rich history and cultural surrounds, reflecting the people who live here and the land they call home.
The curatorial framework, titled “Of Place,” aspires to build integrated public art experiences that honor the diverse, creative, and hardworking communities of Footscray, both past and present. It fosters connections to the natural environment, which has sustained its people for thousands of years.
This vision is supported by four key themes:
- First Nations First
- Waves of Migration
- Communities Heal and Thrive
- Renewal and Regeneration
News & Updates
The new Footscray Hospital, on the corner of Ballarat and Geelong Roads, 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.
Commission Two – New Footscray Hospital Tapestry
Plenary Health has announced the artists tasked with creating the design for a tapestry that will hang suspended in the main entry and welcome all visitors to the new hospital.
Renowned artists Maree Clarke (Yorta Yorta/Wamba Wamba/Mutti Mutti/Boonwurrung) and Mitch Mahoney (Boonwurrung/Barkindji) will collaborate on the design, incorporating microscopic images of river reeds from the Maribyrnong River and skeletal drawings of local native flora and fauna.
Learn more about the Tapestry.
“The tapestries we have woven for hospitals are amongst our most loved, because of the colour, warmth, and connection they bring to people of all backgrounds. We are confident this will be a joyful and much-loved addition to a beautiful new building.”
– Sophie Travers, Director/CEO of the Australian Tapestry Workshop
Commission One – Faces of Footscray
Located on the hoarding of the New Footscray Hospital site (Geelong Road, Federal Street end), Faces of Footscray is a photographic portrait series celebrating the people of the West.
Featuring the work of visual artists from the West, Mika Tran and Thuy Vy, the two creatives highlight the people that genuinely embody what makes the West special – each portrait links to a short film detailing their connection to place, culture and community.
“Art at the new Footscray Hospital will reflect Footscray’s rich history and strong sense of community.”
– Daniel Santangeli, Footscray Community Arts Artistic Director
July 2022 – Footscray Community Arts named as official arts partner for the new Footscray Hospital
The Plenary Health consortium announced the three-year partnership, which aligns with the construction of Victoria’s most significant health infrastructure investment to date.
Public art is considered part of the overall hospital design approach to help improve health and wellness. The design includes standalone works and immersive art forms in external and internal spaces.
“Footscray Community Arts is an important part of the cultural fabric in the west and with their 50-year legacy, they are the perfect arts partner for the new hospital.”
– Kelvyn Lavelle, Plenary Health New Footscray Hospital Project Chair
Upcoming Commissions
There will be several public art commissions across the new hospital including ‘Journey to Footscray’, where one artist’s work will feature on recessed wall panels showcasing local stories of migration, nature sound art in outdoor spaces, digital art, community-led art pieces and First Nations landscaping.
Contact Us
For further media information contact:
Kendall Munns
Communications and Engagement Manager, Plenary
kendall.munns@plenary.com
Marketing and Engagement Team
Footscray Community Arts
marketingteam@footscrayarts.com
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