Moving On

Appointed as lead artist to develop strategic public art policy and framework for Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (including NHS provision in Bristol, Bath, Somerset and Gloucestershire). Commissioned by AWP NHS Trust and Willis Newson Public Art Consultants.

One of the largest mental health public art projects in the UK, 'Moving On' involves 36 site-specific artworks for five mental health sites in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. The largest site, a £35m PFI hospital in south Bristol is now complete and celebrates the work of 17 artists, eight of whom are local to Bristol. The commissioned artworks include large scale entrance sculptures, water features, glazing, ceramics, floor designs, custom built furniture and a projection piece.

Most of the funding for this project was secured from the Strategic Health Authority and PFI partner Ryhurst as part of the financial close on the new hospital development. Additional money was raised from charitable sources making a total art budget of £630,000, which was just under 1% of the total capital budget. Leadership and commitment from the directors of the trust has been essential to its success especially as it has developed at a difficult time for the NHS of tighter financial management, deficits and staffing issues. Arts consultants Willis Newson were commissioned to develop an arts strategy in 2003 involving two lead artists David Cotterrell and Sineid Codd, to work in a participative approach from the start culminating in a visioning day. Showing images of artists' work in other places, describing the potential that arts can bring to health, thinking about how to collaborate with staff and patients to ease the pain of moving from a dearly loved but completely outdated environment to somewhere new, laid the groundwork for the new project.

Text sourced from Hospital Development magazine.

Further information about the Moving On project can be found here