Four artists who are having an important impact on the future design of hospitals will be giving insights into their work later this month.
A free panel discussion called ‘Public Art, Care and Connection: The Role of the Artist in Healthcare Environments’ is between 5.30pm to 7.30pm on Tuesday 30 June.
Artists Ivan Morison and Jo Hummel will reflect on the commissions being developed for the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (opens in a new tab), while Mark Titchner will discuss work in various healthcare settings, and his commission for Cambridge South station (opens in a new tab).
Signature artist for Cambridge Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab), Amalia Pica, will share her vision for creating playful, imaginative, work to bring a sense of wonder to the environment.
They will be in conversation with director of the Bourn-based Wysing Arts Centre (opens in a new tab), Rosie Cooper, and explore how artists, clinicians and communities collaborate to create healthcare environments that inspire creativity and promote wellbeing.
A second free event, between 5.30pm to 8pm on Thursday 2 July, is called ‘Goodbye Breasts! Documentary Screening and Q&A’ and includes a chance to view Joanna Callaghan’s award-winning documentary, described as an “artistic exploration of breast cancer”.
Blending self-shot footage, animation and archival material, the film brings humour and heart to a sensitive topic. After the screening, Joanna will be joined in conversation by CUH Head of Arts, Natalie Ellis.
Both events, at Cancer Research UK, Robinson Way, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, are free and organised by the Cambridge University Hospitals’ arts team, CUH Arts, as part of the 2026 Cambridge Arts Festival (opens in a new tab). Each includes networking sessions and the panel discussion will be available to livestream.
The CUH Arts Festival 2026, supported by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT), brings together events, exhibitions and activities that highlight the role of creativity within healthcare. Alongside the public events, a range of artists will deliver daily hands-on creative activities across the hospital.
CUH Arts’ Programme Manager, Ellen Nowak, said:
The panel brings together an exceptional group of artists to explore how creativity can shape more compassionate, connected healthcare environments, and Goodbye Breasts! is a beautiful and moving film that opens up powerful conversations around health and lived experience. They should make for really engaging, lively events
Ellen Nowak
Tickets are available via Eventbrite at Public Art, Care and Connection: The Role of the Artist in Healthcare Environments (opens in a new tab) or via Goodbye Breasts! Documentary Screening and Q&A (opens in a new tab).
*CUH Arts has opened an exhibition tracing the collaborative work which went into choosing materials and colours for an artwork at the forthcoming Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital. It lines the walls of the long corridor between the central concourse and Addenbrooke’s Treatment Centre (ATC).’