‘The Healing Arts’ – celebrating the impact of art and design on patients at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
“Most adults and children who enter a hospital, often accompanied by the scream of an ambulance siren, feel anxious. Whether they are relatives of someone already inside the building, or patients bracing themselves before undergoing treatment, these people can truly be described as vulnerable. They deserve something far better than a stark and bewildering medical environment, unalleviated by images of the world outside. That is why the CW+ arts programme at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital must be applauded for providing such a refreshing alternative.”
Richard Cork, Art Critic and contributing author in The Healing Arts
A brand-new book was launched last night at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, celebrating its pioneering arts in health programme which has been run by its charity CW+ for over 25 years. By bringing music, performance and the visual arts into the hospital, the charity has created an extraordinary environment and transformed the experience of countless patients, visitors and members of staff.
The Healing Arts is a collection of essays, which delve into the story of the arts at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, from the installation of daring sculpture before the hospital opened its doors, to the exciting future of the programme. It discusses the impact of the CW+ arts programme on patients’ recovery, in some cases shortening their stay or reducing their need for pain medication. From drawing to music to creative digital technology, this volume looks at how integrating the arts into the day-to-day life of the hospital has changed its patients’ experience of care.
Built in 1993, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital was the first UK hospital to lay an arts and design manifesto into its very foundations. Local artists donated works which started the collection including Patrick Heron, Allen Jones and Eduardo Paolozzi. The collection and programme, which is entirely funded by the hospital charity CW+, has since grown and currently has over 2,000 pieces including its latest commission by renowned artist Isaac Julien CBE. It has also grown to be an evidence based programme of work including all aspects of art and design, which is delivered to support the physical, mental and emotional experience and recovery of patients.
The programme is made up of three different areas of work. ‘Arts for All’ is the charity’s performance and participation programme which reaches 1.5 million people every year including patients, visitors and staff; through live performances, at bedsides, in public spaces and participatory workshops. The ‘Design and Environment’ programme transforms and enhances clinical spaces with bespoke lighting, acoustics, aesthetics and temperature – all of which, research shows, have a significant effect on patients. Finally, the ‘Future Hospital’ is identifying, implementing and evaluating the latest digital and virtual technology to benefit patients. Examples include producing bespoke content for virtual reality technology to distract patients, creating soundscapes, digital moving artworks, wearable technologies, and robotic companion pets.
Trystan Hawkins, CW+ Arts Director, commented: “The Healing Arts celebrates the legacy of the arts programme founders at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, demonstrating how their vision allows us to continue to innovate by commissioning ambitious, bold and daring contemporary art and design that has profoundly positive impacts on patients, staff and visitors. We are incredibly grateful to our community of supporters, who make our work possible.”
The Healing Arts was sponsored by Philip Hoffman and The Fine Art Group. Philip says “Art serves many purposes, often to communicate, to emote, to create a sense of beauty or to motivate; but within the walls of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital it plays another vital role. Art goes above and beyond, and instead becomes a tool for healing.”
For more information or to purchase a copy of the book please visit www.cwplus.org.uk/healingarts
#HealingArts
About The Healing Arts
Authors
- Mr James Scott is the founder of the Arts Project at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and a retired consultant orthopaedic surgeon.
- Richard Cork is the author of The Healing Presence of Art, which provides an in-depth look at the history of art in healthcare settings.
- Dr Zoe Penn is the Medical Director for Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
- Dr Andrew Hall is a musician and artist, and works as Music and Sound Research Lead for CW+ at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
- Lewis Khan is the Photographer in Residence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
- Anouk Mercier is the Drawer in Residence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
- David Ferry is an artist and former Chairman of the Chelsea Arts Club.
- Grace Saull is the Visual Arts Manager at CW+.
About Us
About CW+
CW+ is the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust including its hospitals and clinics. Our generous supporters and partners enable us to:
- Build and enhance clinical facilities to create an outstanding healing environment for patients and staff
- Deliver a unique art and design programme to transform the experience and wellbeing of our patients
- Invest in health innovation to deliver exceptional patient care
CWPLUS Registered Charity No.1169897
About Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
The Trust manages Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, West Middlesex Hospital and a number of community sexual health and HIV services across London. It employs over 6,000 staff who care for nearly one million people. The Trust provides a range of specialist clinical services as well as general hospital services for people living locally, which include A&E and maternity at both hospital sites.
About Unicorn Publishing Group
Unicorn Publishing Group LLP is a leading independent publisher with three distinct imprints: Unicorn, specialising in the visual arts and cultural history; Uniform, specialising in military history; and Universe, specialising in historical fiction. We use the very best designers, editors, researchers, photographers, indexers and publicists and project manage these to make beautiful books for our global audience to cherish.
About The Fine Art Group
The Fine Art Group is an independent, global team of art advisors and art finance experts committed to supporting clients at every level of market activity across our three core pillars; art advisory, art finance and art investment. Launched in 2001, The Fine Art Group has an unrivalled track record across its three services occupying a unique position within the art ecosystem. Our clients benefit from the shared in-house intelligence of our specialist teams to offer strategic guidance around art.
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