Artists providing hospital tonic

The region's talented young artists have an opportunity to brighten up people's lives by exhibiting their work at Waikato DHB hospitals as the Transfusion competition begins this week.

The 2010 Hamilton Boys' High School and Waikato DHB Painting Competition is about the power of art and the artist to influence the lives of others for the better.

The competition is open to year 12 and 13 art students throughout the region and the work may form part of an NCEA submission or be produced specifically for the competition.

Last year Hamilton Boys' High School student Hamish Carter took out the top prize in the inaugural competition, scoring himself a year's fees at Wintec's School of Media Arts.

His work hung for a month in the Transfusion exhibition at Waikato Museum with more than 100 other students' entries.

The students donated their artworks as part of the competition to Waikato DHB provider arm Health Waikato to hang in its five hospitals in Hamilton, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti, Thames and Taumarunui.

Organiser James Sutherland, head of art at Hamilton Boys' High School, said there were some wonderful pieces of work entered last year and he expected the same this year.

Health Waikato chief operating officer Jan Adams, who presented the awards at Waikato Museum last year, agreed the quality of the art was outstanding. "As clinicians we know the impact art has on people, particularly those who may be ill or recovering in our hospitals.

"What we often don't appreciate is that many people visiting our hospitals are under stress or concerned for their loved ones and sometimes a piece of work from a young artist lifts their spirits," she said.

Mr Sutherland came up with the idea of getting his students to donate their work to Waikato Hospital six years ago when his son was born there.

More than 80 student works already hang in Waikato Hospital, which Mrs Adams said had an immeasurable effect on the atmosphere of the place.

"I know the student art that hangs in Waikato Hospital already provides a tonic for the 4500 staff who work here and on any day about 5300 people visit," she said.

"That's quite an audience for these talented young artists."

Closing date for entries is June 10. Work will be displayed at Waikato Museum between July 3 and August 8 and the winners will be announced in the Waikato Times on July 10.

waikatodhb.govt.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News