HOSPART

 The Hospart project began in 2003 as part of my Professional practice module during my degree course.

It was in response to research into Arts in the healthcare system and the work carried out by Chelsea & Westminster hospital in   perticular their three year research programe into the effects that both performing and visual arts were having on patients, Doctors, nursing staff and visitors to the hospital.
This reasearch found that art had real benefits in reducing stress and anxiety amongst staff and patients alike.
 
So along with Annie Woodham and Indu Shah we set up the Hospart project using Art produced by fellow students and tutors from Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College in High Wycombe, Bucks.
The first Hospital exhibition took place in High Wycombe General Hospital in 2003 over 4 weeks and was a great success.

We found that patients were engaging in conversations with eachother and staff about the artworks and this had the effect of killing off 'time' one of the causes of stress when waiting to be seen in an outpatients department.
We also found that both nursing staff & patients were using the artworks as landmarks within the outpatients dept which helped locate the various clinics much better than often obscured signs hidden amongst copius posters and displays plastered on the walls.

With this information i decided to continue the Hospart project on my own into other hospitals with the help of Funding by 'UnLtd' a funding body created by the millenium fund.

The Next Hospital i worked with was Watford General Hospital.
As with High Wycombe this was only after many meetings with hospital staff and the trustees office to establish various groundrules.

One of the major concerns is always the content of any Artworks to be displayed.

Too much 'Red' is veiwed as 'Blood' , 'Black' is associated with 'Death'. other areas of concern are religious icons, Pagan symbals, Ascending Doves, nudity, and the list goes on.

We are talks with several other Hospitals who are interested in hosting a Hospart exhibition so if you would like to Exhibit some of your Artwork then please contact me on hospart@aol.com. 

To view photo's of Hospaty exhibitions please go to 'The exhibitions Page' .