Artmed

Two people sit and draw while two others stand within a large full-room installation made of brightly coloured fabric and poles

A collaborative program between the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian National University Medical School

The program involves medical students visiting the Gallery in small groups to discuss works of art in relation to areas of curriculum; in particular the sphere of ethics, law and human rights. Gallery educators facilitate a comprehensive discussion during the visit, choosing works of art that relate closely to the topic area and others that help expand the students’ conceptual abilities.

Following this visit the students’ develop a group presentation for their colleagues and may also write a piece for publication here.

The artmed program encourages the development of visual literacy for a group of students whose observational skills will be essential in their future medical careers. At a deeper level, a visit to the Gallery broadens the students’ awareness of the value of art in enriching their understanding of the world in which we live. The visit demystifies the Gallery and affirms the potential for art to intersect with the medical world.

Student responses