Run in collaboration with Creativity Works, Avon & Wiltshire Healthcare Partnership Trust, Sirona & St Mungo’s.
“Allowed space and time to be myself and be creative in a well-supported inspiring environment.” (Project participant)
This project created new artwork to be displayed at the Hillview Lodge acute psychiatric unit at Royal United Hospital, Bath. The participants were people affected by mental health challenges or their friends or family members and the work presents people with lived experience of mental health challenges in a positive light, breaking down the stigma often associated with this subject.
The original idea behind the project came from Nat Burgess, a service user at Hillview Lodge who wanted to give something back to the ward and saw that fresh artwork in regularly rotated displays would promote conversation and wellbeing. Read an article by Nat about his brilliant idea here.
In addition, the project workshops have provided an opportunity for participants to build their skills and confidence and take pride in the display of their work.
The project consisted of fourteen workshops led by two professional artists and was held in inspiring museum settings. The participants had the chance to explore these fascinating collections as well as create their work in unique spaces.
Before the artwork was put on display at Hillview Lodge, a public exhibition was held at the Building of Bath Collection. One of the artists, Patrick Graham, created a panorama of all the work on display which can be seen here.