Art auction raises money for hospital art

Around $40,000 was raised last night (Thursday) to buy art for Bay of Plenty District Health Board hospitals in Tauranga and Whakatane.

The money was raised during an auction of artwork donated by 18 Bay of Plenty artists, including Hayley Brown, Kate Jones Madill, Bryce Brown, Paula Knight, Rebecca Meyer and Jane Wilson. Fourteen of the 18 pieces of art sold. Organisers believe the remaining four pieces will sell, bringing the total raised to around $47,000.

Four of the paintings, including one by Ngongotaha artist Rebecca Meyer – whose painting depicts the story of her life since her husband Brett died of cancer in January after a four-year illness - will be donated to the hospital by their purchasers.

The auction was organised by a community group, Art in Hospitals and was part of a gala function organised by the DHB to celebrate progress on the construction of Tauranga’s new hospital. Guest of honour was prime minister Helen Clark. More than 300 invited guests, including local and national political figures, local businesspeople and DHB staff attended.

The function was held in the Specialist Health Services for Older People building at the hospital, which is under construction. A t-shirt, signed by each of the artists, was presented to Helen Clark and later auctioned.

The prime minister toured the existing and the new buildings before the gala function. She told guests they will be “blown away” at just how good the new facilities are.

“The old buildings of the 1960s and 1970s have done a great job, but they are a little tired in comparison to modern standards.”

The redevelopment of the Tauranga campus is part of $1.2 billion that has been spent on improving infrastructure at hospitals throughout the country over the past seven or so years, Helen Clark said.

“Placement of art in hospitals increases morale and lifts spirits. I believe the health outcomes are better if people are in a place that has things of beauty in it.”

Tauranga Hospital is undergoing a $140 million construction and refurbishment programme. Departments begin moving into the two new buildings in three month’s time. First to open are the seven new operating theatres, which will be fully operational by the end of June.

ENDS

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