We again urge CVRD directors to approve annual budgeting for our landmark art-gallery project
Dear CVRD directors and Premier David Eby:
We heartily applaud Island Health for inviting Cowichan artists to submit work and creative ideas about decorating our new hospital with healing artworks. Details are found on the Citizen’s Oct. 18, 2024 website.
We expect our valley’s great arts councils to urge member and non-member artists alike to get involved in this worthwhile, compassionate plan concerning patients, staff, families and visitors to our new Cowichan District Hospital.
Artworks from our new hospital, opening in 2027, could also be occasionally displayed in our exciting Cowichan Public Art Gallery (CPAG) planned for downtown Duncan. Gallery leaders are targeting inclusivity to expose locals and tourists to art.
Conversely, some CPAG artworks — aside from those requiring climate controls and security — could be displayed at our new hospital given collaboration between gallery and CDH brass.
We again urge CVRD directors to approve annual budgeting for our landmark art-gallery project. That funding would allow CPAG to hire staff to chase tax-deductible donations and government grants.
Finally, we understand some art gracing our current hospital may move to our new CDH. We expect those decisions to happen after Island Health gains public input this fall about saving and repurposing our aging hospital for long-term care needs. No decisions have been made about CDH’s future use, Island Health stresses.
A petition to save and reuse our old CDH has reached about 4,500 names.
Yours in healing through the arts,
Peter W. Rusland
North Cowichan
