STRHS-Lawrenceburg, Downtown Lawrenceburg Receive $25,000 Grant for Healing Courtyard Project

Downtown Lawrenceburg, in partnership with Southern Tennessee Regional Health System – Lawrenceburg, has received a $25,000 grant through the Tennessee Arts Commission’s inaugural Tennessee Arts & Rural Health Initiative. The funding will support the creation of an outdoor, art-driven healing space on the hospital campus designed to improve wellness for patients, families, visitors, and staff.

The statewide pilot program awards a total of $175,000 to 10 rural hospitals in Tennessee, funding arts-based projects that integrate creativity into healthcare environments. The initiative is a collaboration between the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Tennessee Hospital Association, supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and state funds.

The Lawrenceburg project will transform an existing hospital courtyard with murals by Tennessee artists, decorative lighting, accessible seating, shade structures, and landscaping. The space will allow patients to experience art and nature while remaining on hospital grounds.

Rhee Perry, CEO of STRHS-Lawrenceburg, said the grant will help create a welcoming space that promotes peace, reflection, and wellness for everyone who walks through the hospital doors.

Michele Gantz, Executive Director of Downtown Lawrenceburg, said the project demonstrates how combining art, light, and nature in a healthcare setting can support emotional well-being, reduce stress, and remind patients and families that healing is deeply human.

The project is scheduled to begin in January 2026 and conclude by June 1, 2026.