pARTicipate Art at the Heart of the RUH
Art at the Heart of the RUH Participatory Programme 2016 www.artatruh.org | @artatruh
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About The Programme
pARTicipate is a programme of creative engagement led by Art at the Heart at the Royal United Hospital, Bath.
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We deliver three programmes – Artsparks, Soundbite and Stitch in Time providing year round opportunities for patients and their families to engage with the arts. The programme has emerged from over 10 years experience of organising and delivering art and music workshops, exhibitions and commissions within a major acutecare hospital. This strand of Art at the Heart sets out to establish models of working that improve outcomes for patients through developing the patient environment, encouraging and supporting social skills and increasing self-esteem and confidence.
1. Stitch in Time 2. Artsparks 3. Soundbite: Combe Ward Tea Party 4. Stitch in Time Reminiscence Panels 5. Stitch in Time Reminiscence Panels 6. Artsparks 7. Live Music Now
Artsparks
Artsparks, led by our Artist in Residence is a weekly patient-led creative workshop that takes place both in the playroom and bed sides on the Childrens’ Ward. The intention is to allow children to enjoy the freedom to produce their own creative work in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental setting. This project is fully inclusive, building relationships with many of our regular patients. Artsparks workshops take place every Wednesday morning on the Childrens’ Ward and received a Highly Commended Arts Award from Arts and Health South West in 2013.
About The Programme
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Soundbite
Soundbite, led by our Musician in Residence includes the bimonthly Lunchtime Performance* and weekly Interactive Performance programmes. Soundbite supports local and national professional musicians by showcasing their talents for the benefit of patients, visitors and staff across the trust. Student placements, clinical referrals and reminiscence therapy all play an important role within the programme. *The Lunchtime Performance Programme takes place in the main atrium between 1-1:30pm, before moving on to two hospital wards.
Stitch in Time
This is a programme of weekly creative textile reminiscence workshops on the RUH older patients units led by our Artist in Residence and co-produced by textile students and volunteers. The aim is to create a safe social space where participants, including those with dementia can share stories, memories, skills and experiences during their time in hospital.
Stitch in Time takes place every Friday morning, between 10am - 12pm on Combe Ward.
Facts and Figures
What they Said
Monitoring figures and statistics
Feedback from patients, their families, staff and visitors
Workshops and Exhibitions Number of participants (Apr - Mar) • We run over 350 workshop Artsparks: sessions with patients and their Soundbite familiesPerformances: every year. Lunchtime • We regularly showcase work Interactive Performances: made on the wards. The Stitch in Time: gallery space in the Artsparks 4 times a year Totalcorridor numberchanges of workshops features work from 1265and workshop sessions with patients patients thefamilies RUH Children’s Ward as andon their well as local primary and secondary schools. Volunteers No. of volunteers: 6 Volunteering • On average we have 6-10 Sharing and evaluation sessions volunteers who assist our 63 sharing sessions participatory projects. This can range from student placements Exhibitions to career breaks and retirement 4 exhibitions volunteering opportunities. Promotional material Sharing ourthe learning Soundbite album: 250 • 250 copies 3of ‘Soundbite: The No. of reports: Album’ have been shared across the hospital and further afield. Awards • We have heldHealth 63 sharing and Awards: Arts and South sessions our Westevaluation Award Arts Award:with Highly external evaluators, supported by Commended Charitable Baththe LifeMedlock Arts Winner 2014 Trust. • We have produced 3 reports over the last year reflecting on what we have achieved and areas where we can do more.
“It was fantastic. My son perked up in a way that no medicine can do. Edwina had such a great range of materials; the hospital turned into heaven in minutes!” Parent
Awards • Arts and Health South West Arts Award: Highly Commended in 2013. • Bath Life Awards: Arts Winner 2014.
“The music playing was a calming and relaxing influence for the patients. So much, that I noticed one of the patients that is normally very vocal and agitated, became calm, smiling, and was dancing to the music with her fingers and legs” Staff Member
“I’ve learnt things that I didn’t know I needed to learn” Volunteer “The workshop made a big difference to my 5 year old niece who was crying scared of surgery before she started doing the art work. She said afterwards: “I feel so much better now” Family Member “I enjoy the social side of sitting and chatting with other people. It helps pass the time and it makes you forget about your troubles” Patient 6
Sharing our learning
How you can help
We have a rich resource of learning generated by our programmes and will be sharing this with colleagues, participants and hospital visitors over the coming months. This will include:
As a charity we rely on external funding, sales from exhibitions and donations from the public
The Playroom Book by Edwina Bridgeman Children and their families often described the Childrens’ Ward Playroom as an unexpected joy. Featuring the childrens’ creations and designed by our Artist in Residence, The Playroom book is a celebration of this creative haven, and doubles up as a resource for children and their families prior to them visiting the ward.
Make a single or monthly donation Cheque or credit card donations can be made by completing a donation form or contacting the art team on 01225 825 416.
Conversation and Companionship A short film about our programme, what we do and how we do it. Working with filmmaker, Andy Kemp and Bath Spa University media students, the film touches upon the environment, being creative, social skills and self-esteem. Developing and expanding our services We have big plans to increase the number of patients and families receiving our high quality service, increasing referral rates and introducing new activities in areas of high demand. To do this we need to develop new partnerships and research opportunities alongside raising funds to support the programme. If you would like to discuss how you might work with us then please do get in touch.
Take part in a Forever Friends fundraising event Whether it is a walk, run, Ted’s Big Day Out, or even a challenge of a lifetime, The Forever Friends Appeal has a jam packed events programme for the upcoming year. Visit www.foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk for more information. Volunteering We rely on volunteers for a wide range of tasks, from assisting workshops and supporting our Artist and Musician in Residence to gathering quantitative and qualitative data for evaluation purposes. At any time there are all kinds of part time and occasional opportunities available to suit all ages and abilities, and in all areas of Art at the Heart. If you are interested in supporting our work please contact us on 01225 825 416 or email diane.samways@nhs.net We would like to thank the following organisations for their continuing support:
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“Through participatory art many individuals exceed their personal expectations about what they could achieve, which enhances their mental wellbeing�. An Evidence Review of the Impact of Participatory Arts on Older People. The Mental Health Foundation.
Art at the Heart of the RUH Estates and Facilities Directorate Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust Combe Park Bath, BA1 3NG T: 01225 825 416 e: diane.samways@nhs.net Charity No. 1058323