Hospital launches cultural hub for patients and staff

A bespoke studio space that will host a participatory programme of arts activities, residencies and workshops has opened at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

The CW+ studio aims to become a hub for cultural activity for the whole hospital community.

Completed in March 2020, it has been used throughout the pandemic as a 24/7 space for staff to relax and recharge. It has now opened to patients with a programme of online arts activities and small-scale live events and workshops.
 
The programme will reach about 25,000 patients and 7,000 carers over the next three years. Trystan Hawkins, the studio’s Arts Director, believes it will deliver “an engaging, inclusive, active and connected programme that will have far-reaching health and social benefits”.

The University of Exeter College of Medicine and Health will be working with the hospital to evaluate the arts programme’s impact and gather evidence of its effect on patient outcomes.