Arts in Trust

What is Arts in Trust?

Arts in Trust is the arts programme for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It uses the arts to enhance the healthcare environment and promote relaxation and enjoyment for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff across the Trust’s main sites, including Cheltenham General, Gloucestershire Royal and Delancey Hospitals.

How can the arts help to heal?

The arts can play a powerful role in promoting well-being. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust believes that good health is about more than the absence of disease and that the arts can play a valuable role in the healing process by supporting the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of patients. The contribution the arts can make to create a stimulating and invigorating environment for patients, staff and visitors is today recognised by the NHS, the government and the wider public.

“Variety of form and brilliancy of colour in the objects presented to patients are actual means of recovery.” Florence Nightingale, 1888

What does Arts in Trust do?

Arts in Trust uses a range of art forms in its programme of activities including visual arts, interior and landscape design, music, performance, creative writing, dance, puppetry, storytelling.

A Collection of Artworks

Arts in Trust curates and maintains the collection of artworks owned by Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals, sited in public and patient areas, enhancing the hospital environment and providing memorable landmarks to help people find their way around.

Changing exhibitions

Dedicated gallery spaces within the hospitals show changing exhibitions of work by local and national artists, arts and community groups.

Take a look at what’s on:

• Arts in Trust Exhibition Programme
  (January 2007 to March 2007)

Improving the environment

Arts in Trust commissions artists to work with staff and patients to create designs which enhance the healthcare environment both indoors and out.

Music and live events

Arts in Trust brings musicians and performers into the hospital to perform on wards, waiting rooms and other public areas to entertain, distract and soothe patients and boost staff morale whilst building links with the local community.

Activities for staff

Arts in Trust supports participatory activities for staff and will assist in facilitating arts workshops, talks or events for particular departments or staff clubs.

Collaboration and participation

As well enhancing the healing environment, the arts are a powerful tool in facilitating communication, community building, play and relaxation, learning and understanding. Arts in Trust works closely with the community to collaborate on projects and forge new relationships

Links with the New Gloucestershire Royal Arts Programme

Arts in Trust is responsible for Leading the Way, the three year arts programme for the new Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, delivering integrated art commissions, artists’ residencies and an ongoing children’s art programme: www.leadingthewayarts.info

Who pays for Arts in Trust?

Core costs for Arts in Trust are funded by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds. Funding for individual projects is solicited from charitable and other external sources.

Arts in Trust would like to thank all who have supported our work:

• Cheltenham Borough Council
• Public Art South West
• *Gloucestershire County Council
• Summerfield Trust

If you would like to know more about the services provide by Arts in Trust, please contact:

Emily Malins
Arts Co-ordinator

Tel: 0117 924 7617

Email: artsintrust@willisnewson.co.uk

In the News

• Memories of Delancey patients immortalised in new book
  02/08/2007

Other Links:

Arts in Trust is run by arts organisation Willis Newson, please visit our website for more information.

Elixir is the final part of a three-year arts programme, called Leading the Way, that has accompanied the building and opening of the new Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

A large plasma screen, situated in the entrance atrium of the new hospital is the public face of Elixir. This will show a curated programme of artist's works, including video, animation, sound, dance and performance over a two year period, starting in October 2006.

Alongside this, Elixir will run seven artist residencies in the hospital (plus one Lead Artist residency), with the aim of producing new screen-based work to include in the curated programme.

Please visit our website for further information