Springfield Hospital — Hospital Rooms

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Bringing world-class art and creative programming to Mental Health Hospitals

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In 2023, we completed our most ambitious project to date in partnership with South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

As part of the development of two new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, we commissioned 20 major artworks to transform how hospital wards are experienced by patients, service users and staff.

Artist Alumni

We enlisted an internationally acclaimed and diverse roster of artists, many of whom put vulnerable people at the centre of their work and specialise in participatory practice.

“Research has long demonstrated the positive impact of artistic and creative expression on our mental health. This programme of work is another way we can harness the healing power of art to support mental wellbeing of those we care for, whilst giving a creative voice to our service users, and creating warm and welcoming environments that support recovery.”

- Sharon Spain, Director of Nursing at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust

Our Season of Creativity

Generously sponsored by Colart and Winsor & Newton, Hospital Rooms artists led more than 120 imaginative and adventurous art workshops with patients and staff, which went on to inform the artworks created. These sessions took place at the existing Springfield Hospital, the Recovery College and The Courtauld Learning Centre. This programme engaged a wide spectrum of the community in a meaningful collaborative experience and ensured the new environment enabled a relationship with the people who encountered it.

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4 - Hospital Street.PNG

11 - Entrance to Jupiter + Lavender Wards (a).PNG

1 - Atrium 1(b).PNG

Hurvin Anderson, Shaftesbury Entranceway, Springfield Hospital, Courtesy Hospital Rooms Photography Damian Griffiths HR 2.jpg

Shepherd Manyika, Sports Hall, Springfield Hospital, Courtesy Hospital Rooms Photography Damian Griffiths HR 3.jpg

Susie Hamilton, Stairway, Springfield Hospital, Courtesy Hospital Rooms Photography Damian Griffiths HR 2.jpg

Susie Hamilton, Stairway, Springfield Hospital, Courtesy Hospital Rooms Photography Damian Griffiths HR.jpg

Alvin Kofi Communal Area, Springfield Hospital. Photographer Damian Griffiths. Courtesy of Hospital Rooms1.jpg

Jasmin Sehra, CAMHS entrance, Springfield Hospital. Photographer Damian Griffiths. Courtesy of Hospital Rooms.jpg

Jo Bruton, Avalon Ward Detail 2, Springfield Hospital. Photographer Damian Griffiths. Courtesy of Hospital Rooms 1 LR.jpg

Michelle Williams Gamaker, Atrium, Springfield Hospital. Photographer Damian Griffiths. Courtesy of Hospital Rooms2.jpg

Michelle Williams-Gamaker, Atrium, Springfield Hospital, Courtesy Hospital Rooms Photography Damian Griffiths 4 HR.jpg

Sutapa Biswas, Atrium, Springfield Hospital. Photographer Damian Griffiths. Courtesy of Hospital Rooms1.jpg.jpg

Yinka Ilori, Atrium, Springfield Hospital. Photographer Damian Griffiths. Courtesy of Hospital Rooms LR.jpg

The Courtauld Learning Centre Workshops

We partnered with The Courtauld Gallery for the first time through this project. Having reopened in Autumn 2021 following a major transformation project, the brand new Courtauld Learning Centre played host to two terms of six Hospital Rooms art workshops. Each artist took inspiration from The Courtauld’s collection and led a session that went on to inform the artwork they created for the hospital. Each of these sessions was attended by people who have lived experience of mental health services.

“To have somebody come along and invite you to take part in a workshop and listen to you and talk to you as an equal, that really validates you as a human being.”

- Patient, Mother and Baby Unit, Devon Partnership Trust, Previous Hospital Rooms Project

SWLSTG Recovery College Workshops

We also led a programme of workshops at the SWLSTG Recovery College, open to anyone who had been discharged from mental health services at SWLSTG or their friends, family or carers. All participants had the opportunity to do a creative activity and to contribute to the artwork created for the new Springfield Hospital.

“What you guys have done is change something that is dark into something that is beautiful, and I’m proud to have been a part of that”

- Patient, Forensic Unit, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Previous Hospital Rooms Project

Inpatient Ward Workshops

At Springfield Hospital, we have run creative workshops in the forensic service, as well as workshops in wards providing care for people with diagnoses of OCD and BDD, schizophrenia, acute mental health conditions and for d/Deaf mental health service users. All participants had the opportunity to participate in a creative activity and to contribute to the artwork created for the new Springfield Hospital.

“The Hospital Rooms project is one of those rare initiatives that combines seamlessly first-rate artists and real engagement with the patient and caregiver community to go beyond mere pleasant decoration. They transform austere patient holding areas into nurturing and healing environments, respecting not only the art and the science, but the essence of compassion which unites the two.”

- Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead, World Health Organisation

Evaluating the impact of artistic and creative expression in mental health services

Through collaboration with the clinical teams at SWLSTG, researchers at Norwich University of the Arts, the World Health Organisation, Wandsworth Council and local cultural partners, we aspire to evidence the positive impact of arts intervention projects in mental health hospitals at local, national and international level and influence strategic and wide reaching change. We invite you to come on this journey with us.

Download our full press pack here

With special thanks

The project is supported by a wide variety of partners without whom it would not be possible. We are very grateful to: Arts Council England, Baring Foundation, WHO Artist Response Fund, Anthropologie, Hauser & Wirth, South West London and St George’s NHS Trust Charitable Fund, The Courtauld, Norwich University of the Arts, CF Moller, Colart, Winsor & Newton, Graphenstone, Wandsworth Council, National Opera Studio, Matt’s Gallery and ActionSpace.