/ About CCC@ART /
In February when MUSC opens the doors to Ashley River Tower, its new state-of-the-art hospital, patients and visitors will experience the largest collection of original, contemporary South Carolina art on permanent display.
Health professionals have known for decades that art has an impact on healing, but more recent studies indicate that the presence of art in hospitals can shorten recovery time and hospital stays and reduce stress and anxiety for patients and caregivers. With this in mind, MUSC began planning for original artwork to be included in every public area of its new 641,000 square foot hospital including patient and exam rooms.
“Art is an important element in setting the tone for a healing environment, and it has been shown to positively influence a number of clinical measures,” said MUSC President Ray Greenberg. “We chose to focus on South Carolina artists to ground the hospital in its native state and to provide a comforting and familiar environment for the patients and families that we serve.”
All funding for the artwork came from private donations. Working with the Halsey Institute at the College of Charleston, considerable savings were achieved in the costs of procuring, framing and installing the artwork.
“This unique partnership between MUSC and the College of Charleston has allowed for the creation of a remarkable collection of work by South Carolina artists,” said Mark Sloan, director of the Halsey Institute at the College of Charleston. “This collection offers a cross-section of some of the best artists in the state today.”
The value of the integration of arts and a healing environment in a healthcare setting is being recognized by a growing number of leading medical institutions, including Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt and Stanford.
