Just because Duke Hospital is a sterile environment doesn't mean it has to look that way.
Cultural Services of the Duke University Medical Center brings the arts into the hospital's hallways, lobbies and patient rooms. The program, which calls itself the "arts council," started in 1978 with the assistance of a National Endowment for the Arts grant and the Durham Arts Council.
The program began with performing arts, before the Hospital's north wing was built. "The nurses wheeled up caravans of beds and took them to the cafeteria for shows," said Carolyn Leith, Cultural Services staff specialist.
After the construction of the Hospital's fancy bed tower, patients were reluctant to leave their rooms. Not discouraged by this development, Cultural Services brought the arts to the patients instead.
"We started a room service program-local artists came to patients' bed side-with a grant from the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation," Leith said. "They have supported a lot of our projects."
The program has since expanded to include a touchable art gallery in the Eye Center, a weekly literary arts roundtable and a collection of over 2,000 original works of art.
"The most visible presence is the art we have brought to the hospital-not only in patients rooms, but also in the hallways," said Leith.
When the new bed tower was being built, a stipend was set aside to purchase prints of paintings for the rooms. The director of Cultural Services at the time, Janice Palmer, did not like the plan, however. She wanted to buy original works by North Carolina artists.
With the funds, the program purchased about 2,000 originals by about 800 different artists from the region.
"It is a big boon to North Carolina artists," said Sam Morrison, Cultural Services visual arts coordinator. "The Durham Arts Council acts as a clearinghouse to bring artists to us. There is ongoing acquisition of art-as the hospital grows, we try to keep our hand in placement."
The art is placed all over the hospital to be appreciated by patients, staff and visitors.
"I don't look at it that much, but it's nice," said Angela Tate, a hospital employee. "It's very nice to look at if you have time to look at it for a while. The patients appreciate it-they are always talking about it."
Sometimes, the patients like the art so much they want to take it home with them. In such a situation, the staff checks with the artist to find out a price and sells the painting.
"When they want to take the art home, it makes us feel like we are doing what we are trying to do," Morrison said. "If art enhances life in general, it certainly has to enhance the environment where people are suffering or healing."
And some of the art is not just there to look at-patients can touch it too.
The Touchable Art Gallery, located off the reception area of the Duke University Eye Center, contains art that is uniquely textured and can be appreciated by everyone, including those with visual impairments.
"The main benefit is supporting people in realizing that even though they are losing their vision, they can still enjoy the arts," said Betty Haskin, coordinator of the Eye Center's arts program. "It offers entry into a quality of life that they may think they have lost."
The gallery offers a comfortable atmosphere with pieces from all over the world. In addition to the permanent collection, the gallery now displays works on loan from the Duke University Museum of Art and the Governor Morehead School.
Myrtle Tucker admired the art while she waited for her husband, who had an appointment. "I think it's beautiful," she said.
The Osler Literary Roundtable and a performing arts division of Cultural Services also bring culture into the hospital. The roundtable of patients and hospital employees meets once a week, and performing arts brings in various performances. The division is currently working on a scripted show, "King Island Christmas," to be performed Dec. 15 and 16 in Reynolds Theater.
"It makes Duke a better place for both patients and staff," Leith said. "It gives people a little vacation mentally from their problems. Last year we had [Duke acapella group] Out of the Blue come-that was very much appreciated."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.