Case Study
Mental Health and Addictions Centre,
St. John’s
Reflecting Recovery: Art in Mental Health Environments
One of our most meaningful collaborations to date has been our work with NL Health Services on the new Mental Health and Addictions Facility in St. John’s, where we helped bring together over 150 original artworks by Newfoundland and Labrador artists into a therapeutic and inclusive healing environment.
Our Role
Over the span of three years, Business & Arts NL supported every step of the process — from conceptual planning and budgeting to artist outreach, selection, procurement, contracting, and installation.
Our role included:
Collaborating with curators and healthcare stakeholders to define artwork goals
Designing a procurement process that aligned with provincial policy and ensured accessibility to artists
Supporting the calls for submissions and public information sessions
Facilitating artist selection, contracting, and final installation
The result? A stunning and thoughtful collection of 152 artworks, including sculpture, murals, textile works, framed pieces, digital reproductions, and more — each one chosen to reflect the emotional complexity of healing, the cultural richness of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the voices of individuals with lived experiences of mental illness and substance use disorder.
Research and experience show us that art in healthcare spaces is more than décor. At the Mental Health and Addictions Facility, this initiative has:
Created a sense of calm, connection, and inspiration for patients and staff
Reflected a wide range of perspectives, including Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, disability, and migrant voices
Helped make the environment feel less institutional and more rooted in community
The Impact of Art in Healthcare
As Curator, Jane Walker, shared:
“We advocated for a range of energy, materials, and processes in the artwork—from bright and optimistic to introspective and melancholy—honouring the varied emotional and psychological spaces of managing mental health and addictions.”
Gallery
Alli Johnston
Amanda Peyton
Anita Singh
April White
Audrey Feltham
Barbara Brazil
Cathy Driedzic
Chris Batten
Chris Kovacs
Christine Koch
Colin Noseworth
Craig Goudie
Curtis Meeker
Deanne Achong
Diana Dabinett
Drift Mural Co.
Émile Sopkowe
Eric Stentaford
Ethel Brown
Frances Vardy Reddy
Heather Coughlan
Iakov Afanassiev
Irene Duma
Jackie Alcock
Jackie Evans
Jacquie Tjandra
Janet Davis
Jerry Evans
Jessica Reid Thomas
Jessica Waterman
Jessica Winters
Joanne Cole
Johnny Rose
Kevin Barry-Martin
Kyle Bennett
Kym Greeley
Laura MacDonald
Lisa Locke
Lori Deeley
Luanne Dominix
Lys-Ange LeBlanc
Marcia Huyer
Megan McNeill
Michael Pittman
Michelle Churchill
Michelle Dooley Kirby
Michelle MacKinnon
Michelle Whitten LaCour
Mike Gough
Molly Margaret
Natalia Andrushchenko
Nicholas Aiden
Peter Jackson
Philippa Jones
Raymond Cox
Rhonda Manning
Rhonda Pelley
Robin Smith-Peck
Rolayne Lewis-Bartlett
Rona Rangsch
Rowena Avery
Sarah O'Rourke-Whelan
Scott Goudie
Steve Dunphy
Susan Bailey
Sylvia Bendza
Sylvia Galbraith
Tanea Hynes
Tangiene Martin-O'Hara
Tia Connolly
Tiffany Lyver
Tracy Perry
Vessela Brakalova
Yevhenii Fedorenko
Participating Artists
“It has been wonderful working with Business & Arts NL on this project. Their dedication and expertise have been instrumental in bringing artwork that fosters a recovery-focused environment in the new Mental Health and Addictions Centre.
Artwork plays a vital role in shaping the healing environment of the new Mental Health and Addictions Centre. All the pieces selected for the facility were chosen giving special consideration to honouring the voices of individuals and family members’ experiences with mental illness and substance use disorder, and actively incorporating the perspectives of Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, disability and migrant individuals. The pieces foster a sense of calm, inspiration, and connection, helping patients feel supported in their recovery journey. By creating a warm, welcoming space, art reduces stress and promotes hope.”
Megan Tucker, Senior Systems Transformation Consultant,
Mental Health and Addictions Centre, NL Health Services
Let’s work together
If your organization is looking to engage with artists—whether for a single event or a province-wide project—we're here to help. Business & Arts NL’s Brokering Services ensure that your partnership with the arts is thoughtful, effective, and impactful.
info@businessandartsnl.com