Wollongong Art Gallery opened its doors last week to Operation Art’s Touring 50 artworks as they make their way around regional NSW.
Operation Art is an initiative run by The Children’s Hospital at Westmead allowing students across the state to submit artworks which are all exhibited at Sydney Olympic Park from September.
Fifty pieces created by students from Kindergarten to Year 10 are selected to be toured through regional centres before being gifted to the hospital.
Art Curator for The Children’s Hospital at Westmead Ivy Baddock said the artworks make those in the hospital realise there are people that care.
“It helps to see artworks that are engaging and kind of transport you to a place other than where you are,” Ms Baddock said.
“We like to keep the labels on the artworks wherever we can so people can see how old they (the artists) are, see what school they went to, maybe that’s near where grandma and grandpa live, and it just adds that extra connection.”
Operation Art project officer Heidi Windeisen said the program benefits those in the hospital environment and the school participants.
“It creates an uplifting environment when you walk into the Children’s Hospital and the walls aren’t white and scary,” Ms Windeisen said.
“But it doesn’t just benefit the children at the hospital, I will mention from a teaching perspective … giving children a purpose for art-making is crucial.”
The Operation Art initiative has grown from a single marquee event 28 years ago to the touring exhibition that can be viewed over the next month in Wollongong.
Students who have their artworks featured can see their work toured through Cowra, Sydney, Southern Highlands, Wollongong, and Maitland before finding it’s home at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Wollongong Art Gallery is displaying the pieces until Sunday, September 3.