The Royal Infirmary Edinburgh Arts Committee was established in 1997, originally to support the move from the Lauriston Place site to the location that the Infirmary has occupied since 2003 at Little France. Through Artlink and Ginkgo Projects, the Arts Committee has continued to develop a strong arts programme, embracing a variety of artforms in the shape of permanent artworks and temporary activities.

This programme aims to enhance the quality of the environment for all, as well as taking into account the need for physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.

Through commissioning artworks and arts activities, the programme seeks to offer opportunities which encourage distraction and discussion and create times and spaces for contemplation, that take you away from the immediacy of the hospital environment.

The projects aim to: give identity and individuality to spaces; to raise the quality of the visual environment; to stimulate thought, feeling and communication; to generate links with the wider community and to contribute to a sense of pride.

The Arts Committee is a formal committee of people who either work at the Royal Infirmary or are linked to the hospital or NHS Lothian. The committee is voluntary and meets bi-monthly.