Look around the walls of your hospital and see if you can find a story. Can you tell anything about the lives of the people who live and work in your community? Do you feel connected to the people who created or are depicted in the artwork? If not, then you’re missing out on one of the most effective tools in creating a healing environment. If the art in your facility simply adorns the walls and complements the interiors with “evidence based” nature images, then you’ve only taken the first step in designing a positive patient experience. To download the free white paper, The Story Behind...

Successful patient-based art programs in healthcare settings often showcase the works of local artists, which portray familiar and comforting images. As evidence continues to emerge about the positive effects of the arts in healthcare, hospitals nationwide are turning to their local art communities to help create a healing environment. They’re using art programs to expand the boundaries of the facility, engage the community and generate support. To read more, click here.

Research has shown that appropriate artwork in the hospital setting can help reduce stress, the need for pain medication and length of stay. The principles of evidence-based design establish the foundation for selecting healthcare artwork. These guidelines indicate that nature is a healing element and that patients can be comforted when viewing familiar surroundings. At Distinctive Art Source, all of our work is grounded in the principles of evidenced-based design. We help clients select artwork that is patient appropriate and facility appropriate. This often involves identifying images that...

Successful art programs can engage the community long after opening day. A well-developed art program expands hospital boundaries and makes the most of internal and external resources by establishing ongoing relationships within the community. With added value becoming the standard expectation, new and replacement hospitals seek opportunities to sustain opening day interest and excitement without incurring additional expenses.  Art programs present the perfect opportunity for dynamic initiatives that maximize the energy of opening day and continue to foster community connections. Think...

As an interior designer in the healthcare industry, you are well aware of the many challenges and obstacles involved in delivering a high quality interiors project on time and within budget.  You anticipate the unexpected: The subcontractor who destroys your feature wall by installing thermostats or fire extinguishers. The discovery that the monumental sculpture was grossly under estimated after the design phase is completed. The realization that the decorative sconces lining the corridors do not spotlight the artwork adequately. The donor who suddenly pulled funding from the project. The...