Back
Phoenix Unit 2016
In 2016, Hospital Rooms worked in collaboration with South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust to commission world class
artists to refurbish the Phoenix Unit at Springfield University Hospital in
Tooting.
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
For our first project, Hospital Rooms commissioned contemporary artists to renovate the Phoenix Unit at Springfield University Hospital, Tooting, with installation based artwork. The unit is a secure psychiatric rehabilitation ward for eighteen residents with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Artists created museum quality site specific artwork that is compliant to NHS hygiene, safety, security and ligature regulations. We also designed and delivered a series of tailored workshops relating to each artwork for service users and staff. Our aim was to increase accessto artwork through the creation of aesthetic and stimulating environments, and to facilitate participation in creative activity to improve the wellbeing of a group of hard to reach people.
Niamh White
Co-Founder
Niamh (Pronounced Neve) is a medium height white woman with light brown hair. Her pronouns are she/her. She was born in Dublin, raised in Cornwall and now lives in London.
Niamh does something different every day but mostly loves dreaming up the future of Hospital Rooms. She builds projects, generates funding, monitors our impact and plans for the long term. Niamh is a curator who began her career on the front desk at Hauser & Wirth, worked for Nick Knight at SHOWstudio and has undertaken a variety of independent projects. She has always been fascinated by the ways in which the arts can drive social change. Niamh likes essay collections – a recent favourite is All We Can Save by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K Wilkinson. She likes getting blown around on the Cornish coast.
Tim Shaw
Co-Founder
Tim is a tall man with brown hair and eyes. He lives in London, grew up in Kent and had Welsh, Scottish and Pakistani grandparents. He has Tourettes Syndrome so has some frequent facial and body tics. His pronouns are he/him.
Tim started the charity with Niamh. He raises funds for the projects and works with the different teams on how to deliver their projects. Tim is an artist and makes installations, light sculptures and paintings. He started his career in the arts as an Art Technician and ran his own art installation company for 10 years. With Niamh, outside of Hospital Rooms, he runs an art prize for exceptional emerging artists. He authored a book called Draw & Be Happy. He eats a Mars Ice Cream every day.
“The Hospital Rooms project at Phoenix Unit
has brought more than ‘just art’ to the ward,
it has brought much needed energy too.I believe that projects like this have real potential
to have a positive impact on the well being
of mental health service users”
“I am pleased we are the first mental health Trust to participate in the project – a well decorated environment will have a very positive effect on our patients’ experience, wellbeing and recovery”
Thank You
This project is supported by a wide variety of partners without whom it would not be possible. We are very grateful to: South West London and St George’s Trust, Arts Council England, Metro Imaging, Liquitex, Dulux Trade