The MUHC is home to one of the largest public art collections in Quebec
Matisse, Hockney and Picasso are names you expect to see on gallery or museum walls in Montreal, not where doctors are hard at work.
"It is one of the largest public collections in Quebec, especially for a hospital," said Alexandra Kirsh, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) RBC Art and Heritage Centre Curator.
The MUHC Foundation owns approximately two thousand art pieces and medical objects.
The collection is then given to the MUHC hospital and distributed throughout the Glen site.
There are pieces dating back to the hospital's foundation in 1821.
"It's very important for us to provide a healing environment that is peaceful, and it is demonstrated that art actually contributes to reducing stress, reducing pain," said MUHC Foundation president and CEO Marie-Helene Laramee.
The MUHC Art and Heritage Centre relies on donations from the community, to make time spent at the hospital a little easier with artwork that lines the walls. (Olivia O'Malley/CTV News)
The building was designed with art in mind.
A special alcove was even built for a sculpture of Queen Victoria that was moved from the old site.
It's so heavy that the floors had to be reinforced to hold the statue's weight.
There are also 11 large 2D sculptures made by Quebec artists as part of the province's one per cent art commission.
In addition, dozens of walls are filled with paintings, prints and photographs.
"We're trying to present them contemporary artwork that they would not normally get the chance to see because it is hard often for our communities to go to a museum," said Kirsh.
She likes to call her work careful curation.
Kirsh works with rotating and permanent galleries and selects art for the needs of each space.
"Whether that's to calm or distract a patient and to improve the working environment of the staff," said the curator.
The centre director, Dr. Jonathan Meakins, said art is just as important for staff and families as it is for healing patients.
"They need an environment that is a distraction from the sterile white walls of a gigantic institution," said Meakins.
The collection is constantly growing.
The MUHC Art and Heritage Centre relies on donations from the community to make time spent at the hospital a little easier.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6975593.1721827455!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.
Canada's envoy to NYC called to testify about $9M condo purchase on 'Billionaires' Row'
Canada's Consul General in New York will have to explain the government's decision to buy a $9 million condo in Manhattan's famous 'Billionaires' Row,' to a parliamentary committee.
Price of new housing dipped slightly in June: Statistics Canada
The cost of a new house was slightly cheaper in June compared to May, according to Statistics Canada. Prices dropped 0.2 per cent month-over-month, which is the first time in 2024 that new houses have sold for cheaper than the month prior.
Parts of DVP, Lake Shore Boulevard briefly flooded as Toronto hit with heavy rain
Thunderstorms bringing heavy rain are rolling through Toronto and have caused flooding in some areas, including the Don Valley Parkway.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
2 wildfires less than 8 km away from Jasper townsite, some structures impacted in national park
As the evacuation order continues for Jasper National Park, officials confirm that some structures in the park have been damaged by fire, but they can't confirm what those structures are.
Olympics: Celine Dion's presence in Paris 'not a coincidence,' says French minister
Celine Dion's presence in Paris a few days ahead of the Olympic Games opening ceremony is 'not a coincidence,' the French government says.
Explosion and fire at Jose Cuervo tequila factory kill six, Mexican officials say
At least six workers have died in an explosion and fire at a tequila factory in Mexico, local authorities said.
'Inside Out 2' becomes highest-grossing animated movie of all time
If there’s one emotion that Disney and Pixar are probably feeling right now, it’s joy. That’s after movie sequel 'Inside Out 2' became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, raking in US$1.46 billion at the global box office and dethroning former record holder 'Frozen 2' from 2019, according to Disney on Wednesday.