The Riverland General Hospital, located in Berri, is at the heart of the Riverland’s health services. Many Aboriginal and Culturally Linguistically Diverse People engage frequently with the hospital and its surrounding Community Health Services.
In an effort to improve the accessibility, comfort and appropriateness of the hospital environment the Riverland Creative Communities Incorporated, with the support of Riverland Community Health engaged Riverland’s NAIDOC 2014 Aboriginal Artist of the Year, Kat Knuth to work with local artists to design, develop and implement Aboriginal art and design into the hospital’s recent redevelopment.
The project provided opportunities for local artists to come together and develop their skills, particularly on large scale pieces and projects.
In addition to its enhancement of the space, the project has helped to build cultural awareness for staff, volunteers, patients and visitors to the hospital and is inspiring a number of other creative initiatives in the community’s health sector.
Created works such as Ena Turner’s Swimming Hole (pictured) have started conversations in the community around history and place.
Country Arts SA pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognises their continuing connection and spiritual relationship to these lands, waters and skies. We are committed to listening and helping care for Country, and to safeguard, share and celebrate First Nations’ living cultures.