"Preserving your health isn’t just about fixing your body, it’s about restoring you as a person too, and the arts have a huge role to play in that” – patient 

The arts programme improves the lives of patients and promotes wellbeing, both during their stay in hospital and after their discharge. Each year over 5,000 patients are reached through a range of participatory & visual arts activities. Our projects include:

Musicians in Residence: performed music per week for adults at each hospital, including long-stay transplant patients. Delivered by Stac Dowdeswell (vocals, ukulele) and Adrian Garratt (violin) – watch Stac and Sara’s Duet and Adrian Performing

Singing for Breathing: group singing for adults in the community living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) delivered by trained Singing for Lung Health facilitators Ed Jeffery and Elisa Jeffery – watch The Singing Hospital

Vocal Beats: participatory music-making for children and young people aged 0-25-years on paediatric and adult wards. Includes beatboxing and vocal coaching, plus lots more! Delivered by Heather McClelland, Stac Dowdeswell (both vocals, ukulele), MC Zani and Bellatrix (both champion beatboxers) – watch Old MacDonald with Molly

Vocal Beats Online: we have four Youth Ambassadors who collaborated with resident Vocal Beats musicians to co-produce a YouTube channel designed for young people living with disabilities to tackle loneliness. It includes personal stories, singing and beatboxing tutorials – watch What is Vocal Beats All About?

Crafternoons: monthly craft workshops led by artists and volunteers in wards and waiting areas, providing opportunities to learn new creative/craft skills and meet new people.

Art Collection and Exhibitions: we manage an extensive visual arts collection and temporary exhibitions which improve the healthcare environment for all.

We rely upon charitable trusts and donations - please help us bring the transformation power of the arts to more patients.

Karen Taylor