Next time you find yourself at this local health centre, you may want to take a look at what’s hanging on the walls. As it turns out, artwork is not just a treat for the eyes, it can improve your overall wellbeing. And that’s why you’ll find a variety of art styles at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie. The Art at RVH program, which has been building for 15 years, has more than 800 works of art displayed throughout the health centre. In a social media post on RVH’s page, it says art can play a role in healing. RVH Senior Curator Carol-Ann Ryan, who’s responsible for the permanent art collection and all art programming at the health centre, says there are clinical benefits to viewing art. For example, she says it lowers blood pressure and there can be decreases in the perception of pain. It also supports overall wellness. “Studies have shown that viewing original works of art in healthcare settings actually has a healing effect on the body,” says Ryan. Among the 800 works of art, are painting, photography and sculpture, by both local and Canadian artists. The museum-level, permanent collection continues to grow, thanks to artists and donors.
