Operation Art Helps Aid Healing Process

Hanging their art in a prestigious gallery is a dream come true for 50 school students after their artworks were selected to be hung in the Art Gallery of NSW as part of the Operation Art Touring Exhibition.
Operation Art, now in its twentieth year, is an initiative of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in association with The Department of Education and Communities, and gives students from Kindergarten to Year 10 the opportunity to design artworks for children in hospital to aid the healing process.
Chief Executive of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Elizabeth Koff, will officially open the exhibition at 11am tomorrow,  Tuesday, 11 November.
The 50 artworks were chosen from more than 700 entries and will remain on display at the Art Gallery of NSW for this month before touring selected regional galleries in 2015.
Following the touring exhibition, the artworks will be permanently hung in The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, alongside the works of many renowned Australian and international artists.
Operation Art Co-ordinator, Lisa van den Dolder, said the opportunity to be part of the Touring Exhibition is great way to recognise some of the 700 artists who are so passionate about cheering up kids in hospital.
“It is a privilege for our young artists to have their artworks exhibited in such a famous gallery but the real joy for them comes from being able to give their artwork as a gift to sick children in hospital.”
Student artists featured in this year’s Operation Art exhibition include:

• Jorja Flegg, 9, from Flinders Public School, who won the S&S Creativity award for her imaginative depiction of a friendly owl.


• Gabrielle Hong, 14, From Strathfield Girls High School, who won the ANSTO Senior Award for her detailed and colourful drawing of emus and rainbow lorikeets.

The Operation Art Touring Exhibition will be displayed at the Art Gallery of NSW until November 30. Entry is free.