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TORBAY HOSPITAL 2022
To the north of Torquay lies Torbay Hospital, where three inpatient mental health wards provide care for adults from the surrounding communities of Torbay and South Devon who are living with acute mental health needs. The purpose of our visits were to transform these three ordinary, clinical wards into spaces of hope and promise through the installation of original, thought-provoking artworks.
PROJECT INTRODUCTION
Between 2021-2022, we travelled regularly from the HospitalRooms office in London to the coastal town of Torquay. Arriving for the first time on a dark, blustery evening in November 2021, we have now spent every season there, returning over the long, quiet winter and then as spring and summer welcomed tourists to the Harbourside and autumn brought russets and ochres to the town’s many trees. To the north of Torquay lies Torbay Hospital, where three inpatient mental health wards provide care for adults from the surrounding communities of Torbay and South Devon who are living with acute mental health needs. The purpose of our visits were to transform these three ordinary, clinical wards into spaces of hope and promise through the installation of original, thought-provoking artworks. We have grown deeply fond of Torbay, where we have been welcomed into an inspiring community of creativity and kindness and formed friendships with artists, patients, nurses, occupational therapists, care-givers and community educators whose passion and commitment have made this project possible.
Anna Testar
Senior Project Curator
Anna is a medium height white woman with longish red hair. Her pronouns are she/her. She was born and raised in London.
Anna leads on Hospital Rooms projects, working with artists, NHS staff and patients and arts and community organisations to bring art and creativity to inpatient mental health wards. Anna studied Fine Art and History of Art at university. She spent a decade working in museums and galleries before joining Hospital Rooms in August 2021. Anna’s favourite artist is Käthe Kollwitz. Having recently moved to Cornwall, she now spends all her spare time in the sea.
Artists
Thank You
This project was supported by a wide variety of partners without whom it would not be possible. We are very grateful to: Devon Partnership NHS Trust, DPT Charity, Devon Recovery Learning Community, Artisan, Torbay Culture, Healthwatch Torbay, The Rayne Foundation, KIER and G.F Smith