Art in Hospital was established in 1991 to “demonstrate the positive role that the arts can play in the quality of care for patients in the health service”. Since then Art in Hospital has established year long programmes of work and special projects for patients in over 30 different health settings. Since 1991 over 95,000 patients in hospitals and nursing homes in the Greater Glasgow area have worked with Art in Hospital.
art workshop programme exhibitions research and development publications funders
Art in Hospital provides an extensive ongoing programme of visual arts in a variety of health care settings in the city of Glasgow and Scotland wide. Initially practicing within long term care for older people, Art in Hospital has diversified to include those being cared for within rehabilitation and assessment units, those with life-limiting illnesses, young physically disabled, mental health and outpatients, rheumatology patients, renal dialysis patients and those in need of palliative care. Current projects: Blawarthill Hospital Greenfield Park Care Centre Mansionhouse Unit, Victoria Infirmary: Continuing Care Rehabilitation & Assessment, and Dementia Units Mearnskirk House Southern General Hospital: Ward 51 - Continuing Care Physically Disabled Rehabilitation Unit The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice ˆˆTo hide this panel click the link aboveˆˆ Initially established to redress the absence of high quality sustained arts provision within palliative care in Glasgow, the project evolved from a 12-week pilot funded by Glasgow City Council in 2001. Its findings supported a successful application to the Scottish Arts Council Access and Participation Lottery Fund for a two-year project, Arts in Palliative Care, commencing 2003. Continued support from Glasgow City Council allowed patients to use museum, gallery and library resources they would otherwise find inaccessible. A bank of books and music, reminiscence and handling kits, slideshows and excursions complemented art and creative writing workshops. Such activities were not exclusive to those wishing to augment artistic projects; they enabled all patients to participate at their chosen level. Now fully integrated to a multidisciplinary referral system, day services patients access the programme by a drop-in arrangement as part of their weekly day unit attendance, or are referred directly for creative interventions. The latter entails an initial assessment to agree a six-week care plan, then subsequent review. Inpatients are referred according to demand by the multidisciplinary team. In fulfilling the original intention to investigate a transferable model for integrating the arts to palliative care, Art in Hospital has published ‘The Pattern of a Bird’. Visit the publications page on this site for more information The Hospital & Community Project ˆˆTo hide this panel click the link aboveˆˆ This project aims to break down barriers to participation in the arts for the most excluded older people over 60 and initiate an ongoing dialogue between older people and the arts in Glasgow. Funded for a number of years by Glasgow City Council Cultural Grants, it has enabled hospital patients, residents from care homes and disabled people living in the community to work with professional artists, students from Glasgow School of Art and pupils from local secondary schools on a wide range of specialist art activities. The project now receives funding from Culture and Sport Glasgow and through the Pathfinder Project, funded by the Scottish Government, has led to the development of the Art in Hospital programme of visits for participants to Glasgow Museums and Galleries. Scotland Wide Project: Dunfermline Building Society ˆˆTo hide this panel click the link aboveˆˆ In 2007, through Arts and Business Scotland, Dunfermline Building Society sponsored Art in Hospital to run a programme of drawing, painting and digital media workshops in care homes across Scotland. This three-year partnership saw Art in Hospital extend its art workshop programme to include successful projects in Dumfries, Glasgow, Dundee, Dunfermline, Aberdeen and Edinburgh in year one. It is anticipated that the programme for year two will extend to more remote areas of Scotland including Skye, Bute, Perth, Ayr and Montrose. As part of the programme, staff at Dunfermline Building Society participate in the art workshops alongside their local care home’s residents and staff. Creative Interventions in Health, Glasgow's East End Visual Arts Project ˆˆTo hide this panel click the link aboveˆˆ Art in Hospital continues to provide support for Creative Interventions; a collaborative project that works with professional artists and local community organisations in Glasgow’s East End. In 2004-05 pilot projects were established in different health and community settings, chosen to enable the programme to address local health priorities, as identified by the Social Inclusion Partnership Health Strategy Group. As part of a wider strategic development in relation to the Arts and Health within NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, the two-year pilot project was managed by Art in Hospital on behalf of NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. Pilot project funding and support was provided by the Scottish Arts Council, Glasgow City Council and John Wheatley College.   In addition, short term and pilot projects are undertaken with healthcare and other organisations and in a variety of settings. These recently include:  Renal Dialysis Project: Inverclyde Royal Hospital ˆˆTo hide this panel click the link aboveˆˆ In 2007 an eight-week pilot project with patients receiving dialysis treatment was held in Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Greenock. Patients accessed a variety of media including animation, photography, painting and printmaking. The project culminated in an exhibition at Inverclyde Royal Hospital. The project was evaluated through a health and well being questionnaire conducted by consultants of the Unit, who reported a significant improvement in patients’ mental health. A paper detailing the project’s benefits was presented at the British Renal Society Conference in May 2008 by the Unit Consultant. The Inverclyde Renal Dialysis Unit wishes to develop further projects with Art in Hospital within the Unit and other Renal Units in the Glasgow Area. Rheumatology Project: Southern General Hospital ˆˆTo hide this panel click the link aboveˆˆ Initiated by consultants at the Rheumatology Unit, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, Art in Hospital delivered a six-week pilot project of visual arts in summer 2006. Medical staff referred day and ward patients of a wide age range. Following an evaluation by the Rheumatology Consultants, a further six-week project is planned for 2008. This will culminate in an exhibition of patients’ work. Hoardings Project: Stobhill Hospital & Victoria Infirmary ˆˆTo hide this panel click the link aboveˆˆ Art in Hospital led two intergenerational art projects with older patients at Victoria and Stobhill Hospitals and four local primary schools: St Bride’s, Battlefield, Auchinairn and St Martha’s. Pupils worked with patients at the Mansionhouse Unit, Victoria Infirmary, to make collaborative artworks for hoardings around the new Victoria ACAD Hospital site, and with patients from Wards 45, 46 and 47 at Stobhill Hospital for hoardings around the new Stobhill Hospital construction site. The project enabled pupils to learn about health, the experience of older people in hospital and the future role of the new hospitals. This project was in partnership with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd and the Scottish Arts Council. Yorkhill Hospital: Children with Cystic Fibrosis Southern General Hospital: Mental Health Unit Lightburn Hospital: Stroke Rehabilitation Artist’s Residency: Scottish Arts Council Partners Project ˆˆTo hide this panel click the link aboveˆˆ As a result of a Scottish Arts Council Lottery Award through the Partners Programme, Kirsty Stansfield was Art in Hospital’s artist-in-residence in 2 care homes in Glasgow between March - July 2006. The residency gave residents at the Mansionhouse Unit and Mearnskirk House the opportunity to explore their own creativity whilst seeing how an artist undertakes their own work. The theme of the residency was to reflect on the idea of personal space, and what this means to different people. Working one-to-one with the artist, participants experimented with sound recording, video, photography, sensors, and movement. In addition, Kirsty has undertaken research to develop her own artwork using sound and interactive sculptures or “sound objects”. Art in Hospital is involved in the ongoing evaluation of the project with the Scottish Arts Council and independent consultants, EKOS. As part of Art in Hospital’s own ongoing evaluation the organisation has published ‘Object Scores’ written by the artist and Penny Rae. Visit the publications page on this site for more information.
art workshop programme
Art sessions, facilitated by expert artist practitioners, introduce participants to a selection of art materials and techniques and encourage them to experiment. Each workshop is tailored to the needs and expectations of the individuals involved, allowing them to develop and explore their creativity at their own pace. During the workshops a relaxed but stimulating environment is created through the selective use of music. A variety of visual stimuli - including books, photographs and postcards - are also provided. This unique organisation is one of the few to successfully and wholly integrate itself within the framework of the healthcare institutions in which it practices. Through The Hospital and the Community Project, residents of local communities are enabled to participate in art workshops alongside patients in hospital. As a complement to these workshops, Art in Hospital provides regular opportunities to visit Glasgow's museums and galleries. This allows patients, ordinarily confined to hospital, a welcome access and insight to the artistic and cultural life of the city.
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exhibitions
Consolidating the work of the organisation, the exhibition programme's primary functions are to bring the work created by project participants to a wider audience, and also to humanise and transform hospital environments. This can be rewarding for both patients and staff. Since 1991 Art in Hospital has organised over 70 exhibitions in hospitals and city centre spaces. Recent exhibitions include those at: The Glasgow Art Fair Inverclyde Royal Hospital: Renal Dialysis Unit Southern General Hospital: Rheumatology Unit Stobhill Hospital & Victoria Infirmary: Local Schools Project Hoardings Exhibition Tramway – Kirsty Stansfield Scottish Arts Council Partners Residency Southern General Hospital: Art is the Flower at Café Clyde Glasgow Dental School The Wolfson Medical School Building: exhibition to launch the publication “I’ll be doing this sky in my dreams tonight” Southern General Hospital: Rheumatology Unit The Mansionhouse Unit: Kirsty Stansfield Scottish Arts Council Partners Residency Mearnskirk House: Kirsty Stansfield Scottish Arts Council Partners Residency The Royal College Of Nursing Congress Aberdeen Royal Infirmary: Grampian Hospitals Arts Trust Tron Theatre Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Winter Gardens, The Peoples’ Palace Scotland Street School Museum In addition, there are many permanent exhibitions in hospital wards and corridors. Most participating patients are able to have their work framed and then hung in their room or beside their bed. The framing and exhibiting of work can play an important role in improving the self-esteem of workshop participants. Recognising this achievement can also help change the way that staff, friends and relatives view the individuals involved. Art in Hospital has participated in the Glasgow Art Fair in George Square since 2002. This is the biggest art fair held outside of London, and Art in Hospital exhibits patients’ work alongside other commercial art galleries from around the UK and abroad. Arts critic for The Scotsman, Duncan MacMillan, wrote about the Art in Hospital exhibition at the Art Fair: "I was most taken by the stand in the main tent of Art in Hospital, Glasgow, paintings done by patients, not as art therapy but as a way of bringing a bit of joy back into their lives. That joy is plainly visible on the walls. There was a freshness and immediacy in the amateur art on view here that was sadly lacking almost everywhere else." This continuing programme of exhibitions in city centre galleries helps to bring the work to a wider audience and to create greater public awareness and appreciation.
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research and development
Art in Hospital is committed to the continued development of the arts in healthcare through national and international links with other organisations and educational institutions. The aim is to set a standard of professional practice for artists working in healthcare, and to gain widespread recognition of the role that the arts can play. This has been achieved through collaborative projects, conferences, seminars and publications promoting the work of Art in Hospital to a national and international audience. artists’ professional development Ongoing support, training and professional development is provided for artists working in the organisation. There is also a firmly established student and graduate placement programme with Glasgow School of Art. This has proved invaluable for artists to gain experience in the field and further their research. monitoring & evaluation The organisation recognises the important role of monitoring and evaluation in order to measure the impact of the work. Pilot projects have been subject to extensive evaluation by the Health Board. Copies of these evaluations are available by contacting info@artinhospital.org, or to download from the Research link on this site. consultancy Art in Hospital operates a consultancy service to institutions and organisations wishing to set up visual art projects in healthcare. conferences Art in Hospital regularly contributes to and participates in conferences and seminars throughout the UK and Europe, often undertaking a key role in the development of conference proposals and in their delivery. These include: Making it visible: Artfull Conference 2007 Life Lessons: Insights into Grief and Loss in Palliative Care, Dublin Castle, Dublin, 2007 Not Entirely Alone, St Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork, 2005 Unlocking The Future, Harrogate Conference Centre, Harrogate, 2005 Exploring Creativity with People with Dementia Summer School, Iris Murdoch Building, University of Stirling, 2004 The Arts as Medicine - Promoting Health and Well-being Through The Arts, Tramway, Glasgow, 2001 The Evident Need, Brussels, 2000 European Forum on Arts and Health, Strasbourg 2000 The World Symposium on the Arts and Health, Manchester, 1999 The Windsor Conference, 1998 Making a Difference, Roehampton 1998
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publications
As part of Art in Hospital’s commitment to promoting and developing the positive role that the arts can play in health care, they have published the following titles. To purchase a publication, download the order form below. download publication order form here (right click and select save link as, or for mac users, Ctrl click) The Pattern of a Bird Published by Art in Hospital, 2008: authors Marielle MacLeman & Jeni Pearson Printed in an edition of 2000 by Montgomery Litho Group, Glasgow ISBN 978-0-9554440-2-9 £15.00 + p&p "This is the story of seven hundred and thirty-one days of a hospice art project. On the eight hundred and ninety-fourth day a nurse left a poem on an artist’s desk. It began… How to be an Artist." ‘The Pattern of a Bird’ is the story of how an arts project became an integral part of care in a hospice. It is an account of Arts in Palliative Care at The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, initially established in 2003 to redress the absence of high quality sustained arts provision within palliative care in Glasgow. The project draws on the combined experience of participants, healthcare and arts professionals, and Culture and Sport services. Accordingly, the book is intended for them all. With contributions from Bridget McConnell and Dr Derek Doyle, a series of essays capture the defining aspects of the project where the concluding paragraphs of each serve as notes for professionals. Though not a definitive guide, it demonstrates the advantages of a comprehensive and sustained arts programme that is delivered by a team of practising Artists and Writers. It bases the success of the programme on its assimilation to hospice practices and documentation. Each essay interlinks through participants’ narratives to read as a storybook. The intention is to emphasise the value of a patient-centred approach, yet show what is required of practitioners to deliver successful creative interventions in a palliative care setting. Moreover, the use of the third person allows for a more intimate but unobtrusive rendering of experiences. It can detail the development of a relationship and expose the magnitude of the otherwise trivial. Further intimacy and tribute to the significance of a single day in palliative care is afforded by recounting events in relation to the seven hundred and thirty-one days of the project: the period defined by initial funding. The publication also discusses the precursor to the Arts in Palliative Care project and subsequent developments. Contents From “Zero” The role of the participant in the project’s development from the recruitment of Artists, to the allocation of a designated art room, and its assimilation to hospice practices and documentation. A Melody Interrupted The advantages of a sustained approach and a dedicated workspace told through the experiences of a biographer and a songster. The Adapted Approach The necessity for patient-led interventions revealed through the experiences of a father, three mothers and an uncle in the inpatient unit. Yesterday and its Environs The benefits of exploring memories through the creative writing of a traveller and a sailor. On Looking Whilst the process or products of creativity afford temporal benefits, how they foster new ways of seeing which can enrich everyday experiences. A Penny Wrapped in Silver The importance of presentation and detail in conveying value. On Meaning A discussion of intention and interpretation. Object Scores Published by Art in Hospital, 2007: authors, Kirsty Stansfield & Penny Rae Printed in an edition of 2000 by Summerhall Press, Edinburgh ISBN 987-0-9554440-1-2 £5.00 + p&p An evaluation published to accompany an Artist Residency with Art in Hospital and an exhibition at Tramway, ‘Object Scores’ by Kirsty Stansfield explores how people relate to objects and situations that make sound. As part of ongoing research, the artist undertook a Scottish Arts Council Partners residency, working with a small group of elderly women living in a Continuing Care ward in two Glasgow Care Homes to develop a suite of sound objects or ‘expressive sculptures’. The resulting publication is a conversation between the artist and Penny Rae. “I’ll be doing this sky in my dreams tonight”: Art in Hospital: A Positioning Statement Published by Art in Hospital, 2006: author, Penny Rae Printed in an edition of 3000 by Summerhall Press, Edinburgh ISBN 978-09554440-0-5 £19.95 + p&p " This document is about validating the importance of creative expression of people who are living within a hospital context. It is based on the assumption that art is about values, beliefs, identity, expression and communication and as such should be a fundamental right of every individual, irregardless of whether they are in hospital or not. ." It aims simply to illustrate the extraordinary journey Art in Hospital is making for everyone involved in some way with the organisation; from health care professionals to funders, and in particular for the artists and clients. We hope it will inspire the confidence in policy makers to make a more sustained and confident commitment to this kind of partnership. Making A Mark 2004: author Dr. Diane MacDonald Cd-Rom £2.00 + p&p Reporting on four pilot projects in rehabilitation and assessment, stroke rehabilitation, dementia with older patients, and mental health. Physically Disabled Rehabilitation Unit (PDRU) evaluation 1999 £4.00 + p&p An evaluation looking at the impact of the Art in Hospital approach on the acute rehabilitation process.
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funders
Art in Hospital gratefully acknowledges funding and support from :
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