Participation
Vital Arts’ participation programme develops creative partnerships with renowned London based cultural institutions to provide patients, staff and visitors opportunities to relax, take a breath, and engage with the arts.
Participation projects
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Dance
Working in close collaboration with Trinity Laban, Akademi, and Studio Wayne McGregor, we deliver ongoing, in depth residencies in partnership with key hospital staff including physiotherapists.
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Music and sounds
Bringing international lullabies to neonatal babies, their mothers and carers, composition workshops to adolescents attending the hospital school and informal, interactive performances for adults.
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Creative
We partner with a variety of creative organisations who bring their unique skill set to our hospital community. From recipe writing to mark making, we offer workshops and interventions that offer respite to those who participate.
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Commission workshops
Artists commissioned by Vital Arts to produce site specific work are invited to spend time with patients, delivering arts workshops and sharing insights into their practice and techniques.
Recent projects
Flow State Sessions
A series of calming, creative workshops at Whipps Cross Hospital, supporting patient wellbeing through art, conversation, and gentle sensory play.
Baby Steps (pilot)
Baby Steps is a creative wellbeing project offering free guided walks for new mothers in Newham, inspired by public art along The Line.
Dance for Dementia
English National Ballet bring uplifting dance workshops to older adult wards at Newham Hospital, supporting wellbeing and recovery through movement.
Newham Music
A joyful partnership with Newham Music, bringing together NHS staff, local schoolchildren and musicians to celebrate community through song.
Erin Hughes
Erin Hughes, Newham Horizons, 2024, Intensive Care Unit and Respiratory Ward, Newham Hospital
Mindful art observation
Limina Collective joins Vital Arts at St Bartholomew’s hospital to develop an alternative way to engage with artworks around the hospital.
Opera at Barts
Opera at Barts provides uplifting, positive distraction for patients, opening the world of Opera to new audiences.
My Journey And Other Stories
Vital Arts, Outset Contemporary Art Fund, Saja Foundation and Art Night are pleased to announce a series of workshops at the Royal London Hospital School, developed and led by artist Shiraz Bayjoo.
The Islanders
artist educator Sam Ayre delivers a programme of creative workshops around the school’s curriculum
Community Dialysis Cookbook: Helping Hands
A Community Dialysis Cookery Book that will enable a community to share their dispersed culinary knowledge with each other and the broader renal patient community.
Older adults singing programme - London Symphony Orchestra
Vital Arts partnered with London Symphony Orchestra to bring music onto the 5 older patients wards at Whipps Cross hospital
Who do you think you are?
National Portrait Gallery delivers two years of creative workshops with children at Barts NHS health Trust
Being as you mentioned
Artist Ruth Ewan worked with patients across Barts NHS Health Trust to develop a set of flash cards for use in older adults wards
Library of Unwritten Books
A story telling workshop with chemotherapy patients about the book they would like to write.
Baby Bird’s Journey
Mothers, their new born babies and families were invited to sing, share and write new lullabies from around the world in weekly singing workshops
Creative Health at Barts…
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Kazzum Arts
Arts activities for children at Whipps Cross Hospital
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The Friends Music Project
The Friends of the Royal London bring a regular rotation of musicians to RLH