Applications Open: New Projects Open Call (2026-28)
3rd March 2025
The Hospital Rooms Project Open Call is open for submissions between Monday 3rd March and Friday 28th March.
There are currently more requests for projects than we have capacity to undertake and so the process is competitive. All applications are carefully considered and feedback will be given to applicants. During this open call, we are looking to hear from Trusts who would like to work with Hospital Rooms on a project starting from Spring 2026 – Autumn 2028.
At Hospital Rooms, we envision a world where:
- Mental health environments are imaginative and cultural spaces that are connected to those they care for, offering solace, comfort and dignity.
- Meaningful creative opportunities are abundantly accessible to people in mental health services.
We are seeking out collaborators who are committed to bringing this vision to life for the benefit of patients, staff and the wider community. We are committed to creating environments and experiences that are trauma informed, autism informed and culturally competent.
Frequently Asked Questions
NHS Mental Health Trusts that provide inpatient mental health services can apply. The project must take place within or around mental health hospitals or services, with meaningful involvement from patients and staff throughout.
Hospital Rooms works across a range of inpatient mental health settings, including forensic units, psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs), rehabilitation wards, dementia care, and Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Trusts providing these services are encouraged to apply.
- Applications are open from Monday 3rd March to Friday 28th March 2025.
- Shortlisted Trusts will be notified in late March 2025.
- Final decisions will be made by the board of trustees in May 2025, with successful Trusts informed in early June 2025.
- Projects will commence from Spring 2026 to Autumn 2028.
If your Trust is not selected, there will still be opportunities to collaborate in the future. An Expressions of Interest form will be available from 1st April 2025, allowing Trusts to register their interest for upcoming projects beyond the 2026-28 cycle.
Hospital Rooms projects typically cost between £300,000 and £700,000. Partner Trusts are required to contribute at least 50% of the total project cost, with the possibility of staged payments over multiple financial years.
The project includes a series of creative workshops where artists collaborate with patients, staff, and those with lived experience. These sessions shape the final artworks, ensuring they are meaningful, inclusive, and appropriate for the setting. The artworks will be fabricated to museum-quality standards while meeting all NHS safety and infection control requirements.
Hospital Rooms commits to:
- Commissioning high-caliber artists to create site-specific artworks.
- Supporting NHS staff with training and networking opportunities.
- Organizing a public exhibition and promotional campaign to celebrate the project.
- Ensuring compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, and equality policies.
- Assisting with fundraising efforts for the remaining project costs.
Please review the project guidelines carefully, and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to Zarina at zarina@hospital-rooms.com.
If you require any assistance with completing the application or need the information in an alternative format, please don’t hesitate to contact Zarina at the same email address.