Students are responsible for designing the murals, developing proposals and presenting their ideas to a committee of Baptist Health administrators before painting begins. The class is structured as a student-led collaboration, with graduate students serving in leadership roles during the design process.
During the proposal stage, students are divided into three groups, each led by a graduate student. Those graduate students will guide the development of mural concepts and help present the proposals to hospital leaders, giving them experience in public speaking, communication and educational leadership.
The murals will follow the theme “Nurtured by Nature,” incorporating imagery and colors intended to create a calming atmosphere for patients and staff.
“Because this mural is for patients who are in the middle of a stressful period of their lives, we want to emphasize a feeling of peace and harmony with nature,” Bennett said. “Emerging research on mental health reveals that time spent in nature can be both mentally and physically healing.”
University officials said the course also explores how public art can improve shared spaces and create meaningful experiences for people in vulnerable situations.
Founded in 1896, the University of Montevallo is Alabama’s only public liberal arts university.