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

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 and galleries across Canada– Fall 2025
• Online Digital Gallery – January 2026

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.

3 Key Messages

1. Art as a Powerful Tool for Health Advocacy

Visual art can translate complex end-of-life care research into emotionally resonant messages, making difficult topics like death and dying more accessible and impactful for the public, health service providers, and policymakers.

2. Equity and Lived Experience Are Central to Understanding a ‘Good Death’

The competition emphasizes disparities in expectations and realities of end-of-life care. By highlighting voices from equity deserving groups, it calls attention to the need for more inclusive conversations and structural changes that promote dignity, autonomy, and compassionate care for all.

3. Public Engagement Is Essential for Transforming End-of-Life Care

Through exhibitions in public galleries, hospitals, and online, the initiative promotes national conversation and reflection, urging both community and institutional stakeholders to rethink how we support individuals at the end of life.