News

St George’s Hospital Charity are delighted to have funded a new creative project for patients on the Gwynne Holford Ward at Queen Mary’s Hospital, to be managed by our Arts Team – Arts St George’s.

Beginning in February 2023, the ‘Arts Afternoons’ project will work with patients and staff on Gwynne Holford Ward at the Roehampton site to invite three artists, representing a range of art forms, to visit the ward for an afternoon a week for 10 weeks.

During tailored workshops, the selected artists will share their craft with participants, be it music, visual art or poetry (or anything in between!) and invite patients to work together to build their own creations.

Following the 10-week series of interactions, the outcomes of the sessions will be shared with the hospital community, celebrating the collaborative and creative work of patients, staff and artists.

Arts St George’s have seen contagious enthusiasm for engagement with arts activities amongst the community at Queen Mary’s Hospital, having brought the St George’s Hospital Charity Resident Artists to the site for monthly visits over the Autumn term.

Speaking of the appetite amongst patients for creative activities during their stay, William Ninco Larkins, Activities Coordinator for the Gwynne Holford Ward said: “We are so excited to have the arts project come to QMH for our patients to enjoy.

"Before, when the Resident Artists have visited it has created a lot of excitement for patients, so it is nice to have a long-term project planned for all patients to enjoy, and that covers a whole range of arts and activities for patients to get involved with.”

Freelance Project Manager for the Arts Afternoons initiative, Beth Hopkins, added: "I am humbled to be part of this exciting new project at Queen Mary’s Hospital.

"Having seen how important visiting and resident artists have been to patients and staff at QMH, I am so excited to be part of a dedicated series of arts sessions designed specifically for the patients.”

Following a consultation with staff and patients, the project will aim to enhance the well-being of patients, providing much-needed leisure time and stimulation during their stays in hospital and to build patients’ confidence in group settings, guided by the visiting artists, with the support of the staff teams.

Chief Executive of St George’s Hospital Charity, Amerjit Chohan noted: "We are delighted to fund the delivery of sustained arts activities at Queen Mary’s Hospital.

"We have long seen the impact of creative initiatives throughout the St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and are pleased to work with the team on the Gwynne Holford Ward to deliver bespoke artistic provision for their patients. We can’t wait to see what they create!”

The Arts Afternoon project team are currently working with patients to design the shape and feel of the initiative, and delivery will begin in mid-February.

Watch this space for project updates!

Arts St George’s is the Arts Programme for St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is part of St George’s Hospital Charity. You can find out more here.

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