ARTS WEek 2024 HAS NOW FINISHED
St George’s Arts Week (2-5 July) is St George’s Hospital Charity’s annual celebration of our year-round programme of art and creativity in our hospitals, encouraging our communities to take time for themselves and engage in a busy schedule of creative activities.
This year, we have been inspired by the theme ‘Seeking Solace’, chosen to reflect the positive impact enjoying creative activities can have on our wellbeing. We also invite participants to use creativity as a mechanism to share their own unique ways of seeking calm and relaxation in an ever busy and often overwhelming world.
Across the week patients, visitors and staff will be invited to experience a range of arts activities led by professional creatives, from special exhibitions and displays, music and dance performances to floral workshops!
Watch this space to find out more as we announce the programme!
What's on During St George's Arts Week 2024
Click on the below dates to view what’s on each day.
Throughout Arts Week and beyond
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Exhibition
Lanesborough Wing Ground Floor Corridor
View a series of exclusive prints featured in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition, donated to St George’s Hospital Charity by the Natural History Museum.
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We are delighted to present this new display of award-winning photographs from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and exhibition, kindly donated to St George’s Hospital by the National History Museum.
Run by the Natural History Museum in London, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year is the most prestigious photography competition in the world of nature photography.
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is a showcase of winning and highly commended images from the competition. These images showcase the photographer's incredible talent and the wonders of the natural world.
The photographs displayed at St George’s were exhibited in the 2020 and 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibitions and we are delighted to be able to share them with you here at the hospital.
‘Pause’
COVID-19 Commemoration Commission
Cherry Tree Walk, Outside Grosvenor Wing
St George’s Hospital Charity are delighted to be working with award-winning design practice Wayward on this new arts commission designed for, and with, staff who worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic at St George’s Hospital
- Find Out More
Wayward spent time at the hospital leading creative engagement workshops for staff to gather experiences and stories, looking back at the pandemic and looking to the future and a place of healing. This creative engagement has helped to inform the final design.
The final commission, developed with and for NHS Staff at St George’s Hospital, is a beautiful outdoor pavilion giving a space to pause, rest, reflect and talk.
The pavilion incorporates patterns and words from creative engagement workshops with NHS Staff at St George’s Hospital.
The commission has been organised by Arts St George’s, part of St George’s Hospital Charity, in partnership with St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Tuesday 2 July
Make Your Own Textile Mobile Drop-In Workshop
11:30-4pm | Outdoor Arts Week HUb
Create your very own unique hanging mobile, from a range of materials both recycled and new.
- Find Out More
In this drop-in session, led by textile artist Nicky Simpson, participants will be invited to spend time absorbing themselves in a simple and methodical ribbon knotting technique, to create their very own textile mobile.
Participants will be able to choose the size of their ribbon mobile, working to make either a keyring or larger piece. Together, our community will contribute to a collective hanging mobile, each affixing a ribbon or piece of material, which will be displayed at the end of the week.
Dive into the meditative rhythm of this creative process to create something to instil calm throughout your day.
Nicky will also be running the same session on Wednesday 3 July.
Inpatient Coda Dance Company Workshops
11am – 2:15pm | Keate & Thomas Young Wards
Patients on the Keate and Thomas Young Wards are invited to join dance and movement sessions!
- Find Out More
We are delighted to welcome partners Coda Dance Company to run a series of free dance and movement sessions tailored for people living with neurological conditions at specific wards at St George’s and Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Coda Dance Company work directly with neuro-disabled people and their support networks to create pioneering immersive dance experiences and performances that challenge perceptions of disability.
The 45-minute sessions are designed to help participants increase range of movement, attention and focus; meet new people; and have some fun!
All sessions will be inspired by our theme of ‘Seeking Solace’ and will provide opportunities for participants to get creative and work together to respond to the topic through movement.
The workshops have been pre-arranged at the following times:
11am-11:45am – Session on Keate Ward
13:30 – 2:15pm – Session on Thomas Young WardIf you are a patient on one of these wards, please speak to a member of staff who will be able to book you in for the session.
Pop up performances by Resident Musician Heather McClelland and Guest
11am – 4pm | Across St George's Hospital
Our Resident Musician Heather McClelland is joined by a special guest, for an exclusive showcase of some of the songs she has written with our patients.
- Find Out More
Our five Resident Artists visit either the St George’s or Queen Mary’s site on a weekly basis, spending time working with patients, visitors and staff. Through creative activities, we aim to positively impact our participants’ time in the healthcare setting. You can find out more about our Resident Artists initiative here.
Today, Heather McClelland will showcase a selection of the songs she has written with patients since beginning her residency at St George’s Hospital in October 2023. She is joined by a guest musician to make this extra special! Catch them at the following times and locations:
11 – 11:30am – St George’s Arts Week Hub (outside Grosvenor Wing)
12:30 – 1pm – The Professor & Mrs Harold Lambert Water Garden
1:30 – 2pm – Ingredients Restaurant (First floor, Lanesborough Wing)
3:30 – 4pm – St George’s Arts Week Hub (outside Grosvenor Wing)
Heather will also be at St George’s Hospital on Thursday (4 July). If you are on a ward and would like a visit from Heather, please email arts@stgeorges.nhs.uk and we will do our best to accommodate this.
Wednesday 3 July
Heritage and Arts Workshop at Fircroft Primary School
(Private Event)
9AM | Fircroft Primary School
For the first time ever, we are taking St George’s Arts Week into the local community, delivering a series of workshops for pupils at Fircroft Primary School in Tooting, in collaboration with local organisation Bounce Theatre.
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During this workshop (part of a series we are running at the school), Year 6 children will be reflecting on pieces from the St George’s Hospital Art and Heritage collection and how these reflect the history of the Hospital
We will ask them to consider if looking at these has had an impact on their perception of the healthcare setting.
They will then use mixed media to form their own creative responses. These will be shown in a new display on the walls of St George’s Hospital in November.
This workshop has been made possible with thanks to a generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Make Your Own Textile Mobile Drop-In Workshop
11:30-4PM | Outdoor Arts Week Hub
Create your very own unique hanging mobile, from a range of materials both recycled and new.
- Find Out More
In this drop-in session, led by textile artist Nicky Simpson, participants will be invited to spend time absorbing themselves in a simple and methodical ribbon knotting technique, to create their very own textile mobile.
Participants will be able to choose the size of their ribbon mobile, working to make either a keyring or larger piece. Together, our community will contribute to a collective hanging mobile, each affixing a ribbon or material, which will be displayed at the end of the week.
Dive into the meditative rhythm of this creative process to create something to instil calm throughout your day.
Nicky is also running this drop-in workshop on Tuesday 2 July.
Trinity Laban Present Live Jazz Trio
12:30-1:15PM | Outdoor Arts Week Hub
Enjoy some live jazz classics from the talented students at Trinity Laban.
- Find Out More
Over several years, Arts St George’s have built a fruitful partnership with Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
With the support of the Head of Jazz, Hans Koller, we have been delighted to welcome numerous musical students to perform for our community both indoors and outdoors, to enthusiastic audiences.
This year you can expect a mixture of uplifting jazz from some of the jazz greats, and sultry blues showcasing Folakemi on vocals, Jack Greenslade on keyboard and Antoine Ray on double bass.
Come down and enjoy with us!
Thursday 4 July
RCA Collaborative Collage and Song Writing Sessions
11AM-2PM | Various locations at St George’s Hospital
Contribute to a collective song and collage responding to the theme of ‘Seeking Solace’, facilitated by students from the Royal College of Arts.
Performance at 4pm | Outdoor Arts Week Hub
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Since Autumn 2023, Arts St George’s have been working on an exciting partnership project with the Royal College of Arts’ new Masters of Fine Art in Arts & Humanities course.
After presenting about the Arts St George’s programme in a seminar on Arts & Health to the students in the Autumn, they were invited to respond to a brief, outlining several areas they could propose projects for, to be produced in the hospital.
We’re delighted to present one of these projects, led by Ina Leah, who will be leading collaborative collage and lyric writing sessions, before performing an original piece based on suggestions from our community, later in the day.
You can come and see Ina Leah and fellow artist Sharol Ahluwalia at the following times and locations:
11-12 – Interactive collage & lyric gathering activity at St George’s Arts Week Hub (outside Grosvenor Wing)
12:30 – 2 - Interactive collage & lyric gathering activity in Ingredients
The day will culminate in a performance of the new song from 4-4:30pm at the St George’s Arts Week Hub (outside Grosvenor Wing).
Creative Creating with Resident Artist Phoebe Kaniewska
12pm-2:30PM | Various Locations at St George's
Our Resident Artists will deliver activities based on the theme of ‘Seeking Solace this week.
- Find Out More
Our five Resident Artists visit either the St George’s or Queen Mary’s site on a weekly basis, spending time working with patients, visitors and staff.
Through creative activities, we aim to positively impact our participants’ time in the healthcare setting. You can find out more about our Resident Artists initiative here.
Today, Phoebe Kaniewska will work with patients, staff and visitors at our Arts Week Hub, as well as patients on our paediatric wards, to create pieces inspired by their perfect day out.
12pm – 1pm
St George’s Arts Week Hub (outside Grosvenor Wing)
1.30pm – 2.30pm
Paediatric Wards, Lanesborough Wing
Zine Making Workshop
11AM-12PM | Hospital Classroom
Pupils in the Hospital Classroom will be treated to a workshop with illustrator of our St George’s Arts Week 2024 visual identity, Rumbidzai Savanhu.
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Inspired by Victorian Puzzle Purses we will be making mini zines. Using pencils, paint and collage we will create hidden pictures and intricate designs that can be a gift for friends, family, loved ones or simply to keep for yourself.
Staff Wellbeing Sessions – Floristry Workshop with Lorelle Mykoo
11-3:15PM | Meet at Arts Week Hub
We have organised three pre-booked Staff Wellbeing sessions for teams to enjoy creating mini dried flower bouquets together.
- Find Out More
Florist Lorelle Mykoo (Fleurelly) has led several extremely popular Staff Arts Club workshops, bringing her floral craft to the staff community at both St George’s and Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Previous workshops have included Festive Garland Making and Dried Flower Floral Wreath Making. Today, staff groups will learn to make dried flower posies, which can be displayed in recycled jars or tins.
We hope that participants will be able to seek solace both in spending the time making the arrangements, but also by taking time to pause and look at their creations wherever they choose to display them.
Staff will also create floral buttonholes for colleagues who may not have been able to join the session.
To find out more about our Staff Arts Club initiative, and how to sign up, please see here.
Mini Tapestry Drop-In Workshop
1-3:45PM | Arts Week Hub
Combine your favourite colours in this simple weaving task with Rumbidzai Savanhu.
- Find Out More
Create your own mini tapestry playing with shapes, textures and multi coloured yarn to make unique sensory art that you can hang up and display.
Queen Mary’s Hospital Resident Artist Celebration Event
1:30PM-3PM | Dining Hall, Gwynne Holford Ward (QMH)
Our two Queen Mary’s Hospital Resident Artists, Monique Jackson and Beth Hopkins will showcase the creative work of patients at Queen Mary’s Hospital in this celebration event.
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Our Queen Mary’s Hospital Resident Artists – Beth Hopkins (musician) and Monique Jackson (visual artist) visit the Queen Mary’s site weekly, delivering creative activities for patients on the wards and in outpatient departments.
Over the past few weeks, they have both been tailoring their activities around the St George’s Arts Week 2024 theme of ‘Seeking Solace’.
Today, the community will come together to celebrate all the creative outputs of patients’ work with the artists – including a performance of songs written with Beth and display of artwork created with Monique.
The Queen Mary’s Hospital Resident Artists roles and this event have been made possible thanks to generous funding from The Friends of Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Staff Choir Rehearsal
5-6:15PM | John Parker Lecture Theatre
Led by vocalist Georgia Duncan, the St George’s Staff Choir meets weekly on Thursday evenings to have fun learning familiar songs, and even writing their own!
- Find Out More
This term, inspired by the theme for St George’s Arts Week 2024 of ‘Seeking Solace’ the group have written their own song around what this means to them.
They’ll be adding the final touches to their performance today, in advance of sharing it with the hospital community at the opening of our COVID-19 Commemorative Pavilion tomorrow.
For more information on the Staff Choir, or to sign up for next term, please click here.
Friday 5 July
'Our Hospital: conserving, curating and responding to St George’s Art and Heritage Collection’ Creative Activity
11:30AM-2PM | Outdoor Arts Week Hub
Create your own mini-print inspired by our St George’s Hospital Art and Heritage Collection!
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Drop-in for as little or as much time as you have to create your own unique mini prints inspired by the unique and wide-ranging St George’s Hospital Art and Heritage Collection, guided by our Creative Heritage Resident Artist George Murphy and Art Collection Officer Charlotte Hailey-Watts.
Creative Wellbeing Hour for Staff
1PM-2PM | Gwynne Holford Ward, QMH
Our Resident Artist, Monique Jackson will run a special session for staff on the Gwynne Holford Ward.
- Find Out More
Monique Jackson is one of our two Resident Artists at Queen Mary’s Hospital, delivering creative activities for patients on the wards on a weekly basis.
Today, she will introduce staff to some of the techniques she has been teaching patients, allowing them to take time to Seek Solace during a well-deserved ‘Wellbeing Hour’.
Inpatient Coda Dance Company Workshops
1:30PM-2:15PM | Gwynne Holford Ward, QMH
Patients on the Gwynne Holford Ward at Queen Mary’s Hospital are invited to join dance and movement sessions!
- Find Out More
We are delighted to welcome partners 'Coda Dance Company’ to run a series of free dance and movement session tailored for people living with neurological conditions in specific wards at St George’s and Queen Mary’s Hospital.
Coda Dance Company work directly with neuro-disabled people and their support networks to create pioneering immersive dance experiences and performances that challenge perceptions of disability.
The 45-minute sessions are designed to help participants increase range of movement, attention and focus; meet new people; and have some fun! All sessions will be inspired by our theme of ‘Seeking Solace’ and will provide opportunities for participants to get creative and work together to respond through movement to the topic.
If you are a patient on this ward, please speak to a member of staff who will be able to book you in for the session.
Covid Commeration Launch
2PM-2:30PM | Cherry Tree Walk, Outside Grosvenor Wing
St George’s Hospital Charity and St George’s University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with Wayward, are opening a new arts commission at St George’s. The new outdoor space, known as ‘Pause’, has been designed for, and with, staff who worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pause will be a beautiful outdoor pavilion, giving staff a space to pause, rest, and talk. The space will reflect on the profound impact COVID-19 has had on our hospital community and highlights the important role the arts play in recovery and wellbeing.
The grand opening
The commission, located on ‘cherry tree walk’ in front of Grosvenor Wing, will be officially opened on the NHS’ 76th Birthday on Friday 5 July at 2-2.30pm. All staff are invited to the official opening. The commission encapsulates the theme of Arts Week, ‘Seeking Solace’, offering staff a place to rest and reflect at work. The grand opening promises performances from our wonderful St Georges Staff Choir, and speeches from some VIP guests.
Designing the space
Over the course of a year, the Wayward team spent time at our hospital leading workshops with staff to gather experiences and stories, reflecting on the pandemic but also looking to the future and a place of healing. This engagement has helped to shape the final design, incorporating patterns and words provided by colleagues.
Thank you to the commission staff steering group, Wayward and to all the St George’s staff involved for their hard work, feedback, creativity and support to make this commission happen.