Art on the ward

Arts Care, an arts and health charity, was established in 1992 by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, in response to arts and humanities research which showed the benefits of creativity to overall health and well-being. Arts Care’s work is carried out by committees across the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Trusts, which work closely with the artists-in-residence in each area. The chairperson and members of the committees are mainly members of healthcare staff, and so are in touch with their particular healthcare setting. Our work, comprising participative workshops, performances and exhibitions, encompasses the spectrum of the arts and has reached thousands of individuals across Northern Ireland. We believe our work has positively affected the entire culture of the hospitals in which we operate, as everyone involved participates as equals – staff, service users and visitors alike. Many of the visual arts projects result in work which is displayed in hospitals. The resulting sense of ownership and pride by the participants promotes an ethos of co-operation and positivity that is proven to benefit the healthcare environment.
A children’s visual art and creative writing project, ‘A Super Muddy Holiday,’ took place on the Withers Children’s Ward, Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast. Visual Artist-in-Residence Cheryl Bleakley and creative writer Moyra Donaldson worked with children on the ward to create their own storybook. Children at the hospital created characters using various arts and crafts. As these characters developed, a story emerged. Over the course of a year, children came and went but the project continued, culminating in the publication of a storybook, produced by graphic designer Alan Diver. At a launch and formal reading many of the participants returned to the hospital to partake in the festivities. This project – and many like it – provides much-needed distraction for young patients who are distressed or bored in hospital. Art can be an outlet for their frustrations and a calming influence. The sense of belonging that comes from being part of a group, and the enhanced self-esteem from the production and praise of their work, can contribute positively to children’s well-being.
 

This is only a tiny sample of our work. We work with people of all ages with all types of illness who find themselves in the healthcare environment. Feedback from our beneficiaries, and continued support from our funders and partners, are testament to our work. Numerous scientific research projects support our activities. For example, ‘Dreams’ looked at the methodology of measuring the benefits of the arts in health by qualitative means. We are hoping to expand this pilot project into its second phase, funding permitting. Additionally, with support from Arts Care, Dr Jenny Elliot, Arts Care Dancer-in-Residence, was awarded her PhD in summer 2008, for her work looking at the place of the artist in health and social care, working with men with acquired brain injuries through the medium of dance. We hope to continue to develop our research, as the eagerness of our participants to engage in the arts and the visible improvement in their well-being demonstrates the benefit of what we do.