A Good Death Through Art: National Competition Explores End-of-Life Care with Creative Vision

A Good Death Through Art: National Competition Explores End-of-Life Care with Creative Vision

The Isenberg Lab at the Bruyère Health Research Institute is proud to announce the launch of the
A Good Death Art Competition, a groundbreaking initiative that invites artists residing in Canada to explore and express the complex realities of end-of-life care through visual art.

Funded by a CIHR Planning and Dissemination Grant, the competition aims to bridge the gap between health services research and public understanding by using art as a powerful medium for reflection, conversation, and change. Submissions are now open to artists
across Canada working in a range of visual media, from painting and printmaking to sculpture and textile art.

The competition seeks to translate key research findings on what constitutes a "good death" - including dignity, comfort, emotional connection, and cultural or spiritual resonance - into artworks that speak to both the heart and the mind. Winning pieces will
be showcased in a national touring exhibition beginning at the Ottawa Art Gallery in September 2025, followed by hospital-based displays across the country and a digital gallery.

“Research on end-of-life healthcare needs to go beyond academic journals and conferences and into the hearts and minds of the general public,” says Dr. Isenberg, Principal Investigator at the Isenberg Lab. “Through collaborations with artists and exhibitions
in accessible spaces, our lab hopes to better engage the public with our research and effect social and political change surrounding how we, as a society, think about and provide end-of-life healthcare.”

Competition Details

Eligibility: Open to artists residing in Canada over the age of 18, working in traditional or digital visual arts (excluding AI-generated artwork). Artists from equity-deserving groups and those with lived experience of end-of-life care as patients or caregivers, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Prizes: Three artists will each receive a $1,000 prize plus travel, accommodation, and per diem will be covered for winners attending the opening event in Ottawa.

Exhibition Venues:

Ottawa Art Gallery – September 2025

Hospitals– Fall 2025

Online Digital Gallery – January 2026

Submission Requirements:

A digital image of the artwork

A 3,000 character Artist Statement addressing:

How the piece interprets research on a good death

The artistic process and medium

The emotional or intellectual impact intended

Deadline: June 9, 2025 at 5 pm EST

Selected works will be judged on their effectiveness in communicating research themes, creativity, and authenticity in representing lived experiences.

Why This Matters

End-of-life care remains one of the most personal yet under-discussed areas in healthcare. While research on a "good death" highlight similar ideas, such as dignity, and the ability to make choices and decide where one wants to die, our research on the continuity
of care at the end of life shows a gap between what people expect from healthcare at the end of life and the care they actually receive. There are also serious inequalities in end-of-life care.

Through exhibitions and a robust media campaign - including artist spotlights, interviews, and interactive content across Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook - the
A Good Death Art Competition will catalyze national dialogue on how we die, how we care, and how we can do better.

To Apply or Learn More

To apply: tinyurl.com/AGoodDeathArtCompetition