Arts and Aboriginal community groups in Dubbo have given a "world-renowned" artist from Sydney the thumbs up to paint a mural at the redeveloped Dubbo Hospital.
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The hospital's general manager Debbie Bickerton said a working group consulted with locals before a decision was made to bring in a Sydney-based artist.
"Fintan Magee was selected from a shortlist of well-known Australian artists by the Dubbo Hospital Arts and Culture working group which has staff and community representation," she told the Daily Liberal.
"Mr Magee was chosen because he is a world-renowned artist that creates inspirational, large-scale murals and his willingness to mentor a local Aboriginal artist.
"As part of preparations for the mural, the working group has consulted with key local Aboriginal community and arts groups."
Ms Bickerton said the mural would be painted as part of a hospital redevelopment arts and culture program.
"Murals of the scale that will be incorporated into the $150 million Dubbo Hospital redevelopment project require a high level of experience and expertise," she said.
"Fintan Magee, who is one of Australia's leading public artists, has been engaged on the project because of his success in developing public art for national and international projects.
"The design will be developed in collaboration with the local Aboriginal community, with a focus on native bush foods and the role they play in health and the community."
According to Ms Bickerton, the mural project will "provide a unique opportunity for a local Aboriginal artist" to be mentored by Mr Magee.
She said the local artist would be assisted to "develop their painting techniques for large-scale installations".
"Fintan is also visiting Dubbo later this year to conduct further consultation and research on local bush medicine," Ms Bickerton advised.
"If any local Aboriginal artists would like to find out more information about the emerging artist mentorship for this program, they can contact Belinda.berryman@health.nsw.gov.au."
Work to paint the mural will start in 2020. The way the health service claims to have handled the mural project contrasts with the approach Dubbo Regional Council adopted when it engaged a Sydney artist to paint a mural at the local pool without consulting local artists.