Above and Beyond Charities - The Charitable Trust for the United Bristol Hospitals

The Above & Beyond funded BHOC art programme has been developed by talking to staff, patients and visitors to find out what they would like in terms of artwork, visiting the centre and researching other arts projects within cancer care environments.

The Arts Programme At BHOC

Above & Beyond worked with Willis Newson (www.willisnewson.co.uk), a leading independent arts consultancy specialising in the fields of art and health to develop the arts programme for BHOC, as part of the charity's commitment to improving hospital environments for the wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff.

Aims
The art programme set out to:

• support and enhance the patient experience at BHOC;
• deliver artworks with a significant and uplifting impact on the hospital environment;
• root the hospital in the locality through artworks linked by the theme of 'a sense of place' and inspired by well-loved local scenes.

Art Commissions:

Commission one focused on the main reception and other waiting spaces.
Artist Robin Blackledge (www.robinblackledge.co.uk) was appointed to create art works that would create a welcoming and uplifting environment. Robin is working on ideas for bespoke furniture and artworks for the walls and glass. His beautiful patchwork depicting an aerial view of Bristol can now be seen in the refurbished reception area.

Robin has experience of similar commissions including contributing to the overall design vision of a new staff library for Derriford Hospital, Plymouth in 2005. He is currently artist-in-residence in Trinity Hospice in London

Commission two has looked at ways to help patients and visitors find their way around the hospital.
Robin has also been appointed to create artworks for walls within the lift lobbies and lower stairwells as well as some artwork to brighten up the lifts themselves. Stuart Low (www.stuartlow.co.uk) an architectural stained glass artist based in Bristol was asked to design some bright and colourful glass work for the windows within the stairwell. Stuart has previously worked on a similar commission at Callington Road Hospital, Bristol. His stunning designs, including a Bristol harbor scene in coloured glass can now be seen in the hospital stairwells.

Commission three has enhanced the outpatient department, clinic rooms and the Haematology Ward with carefully chosen pieces of art.
Carole Innocent from Innocent gallery in Bristol was asked to source a number of artworks for treatment areas within the BHOC to help create a non-clinical, more homely atmosphere. She has selected a number of local artists to work with. Carole consulted with patients and staff at the BHOC to compile a list of popular locations in and around Bristol for the artists to paint. The artists are:

• Sarah Brown
• Justin Cooke
• Andrew Hood
• Elaine Jones
• Paul Lewin
• Glyn Macey
• Neil Murison

For the Haematology Ward, artist Lynn Golden was commissioned to produce some pastel paintings of her time in Barbados. The large canvasses now add a splash of exotic colour to the quiet room, reception area and corridors.

Examples of the artists work can be seen at the Innocent Fine Art Gallery in Bristol or by visiting www.innocentfineart.co.uk