Colleagues who have ever sketched, painted, photographed or created something now have an opportunity to share it with the entire medical center community.
Nebraska Medicine and UNMC’s Healing Arts Program is launching its first staff art exhibition, and colleagues across both organizations are invited to submit original artwork for display later this year. Selected pieces will be featured from September 2026 through March 2027 in the level 1 art gallery at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center – Nebraska Medical Center.
The exhibition will highlight the creativity of medical center colleagues and offer patients, visitors and staff a chance to experience a different side of the people behind the care.
Art plays a powerful role in healing environments, not just for patients but for those who care for them. Programs like this have been shown to help reduce stress and burnout by giving people an outlet to recharge and express themselves outside of their day-to-day work. This exhibition brings that idea to life by creating space for staff to show up not just as professionals, but as people with passions, perspectives and stories to share.
All Nebraska Medicine and UNMC employees are welcome to participate, regardless of experience level.
The exhibition will feature two-dimensional original artwork, including painting, drawing, photography, printmaking and mixed media. Each employee may submit one piece, and all submissions will be reviewed anonymously.
An online, virtual gallery will include all qualifying entries, and a selection of works will be chosen by a guest juror for the physical exhibition.
Key dates:
Monday, June 1: Submissions opened
Friday, July 31: Submission deadline
Friday, Aug. 28: Artists notified
Thursday, Sept. 1 through Friday, Sept. 3: Accepted artwork delivered
October: Exhibition opens
To submit, visit this webpage to complete the online form and upload a high-resolution image of the artwork by Friday, July 31.
Submissions will include basic details about the piece, along with name, department and contact information.
Important reminders:
- Only one artwork may be submitted per colleague.
- Only two-dimensional artwork will be considered.
- Artwork must be original in concept and execution. It must not violate any copyrights.
- All art must be suitable for a healing environment.
- Keep in mind that a hospital is often a highly stressful environment, so the artwork should have high likelihood of positively affecting viewers, even promoting a calming response from them.
- Avoid threatening imagery or imagery perceived as dangerous.
- Controversial, political or religious imagery will not be considered.
With questions, email healingarts@unmc.edu.