NHSGGC Arts and Health programmes aim to create safe and welcoming environments and positive experiences for patients, visitors and staff. An integrated approach considers the ways in which art, architecture, design, music and nature all have a positive impact on our health.
The evidence-based programmes include public art commissions, creative workshops, and integrated design strategies in buildings and green spaces. The work is inspired by the creative talent of Scotland and developed in collaboration with arts, education, voluntary sector and funding partners.
See below to find out more about the programmes, take a look at the cutting-edge designs for new clinical spaces and find out more about arts in healthcare.
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Arts and Social Justice
The NHSGGC Arts and Health programme aims to reduce health inequalities via access to the arts.
The arts have many roles to play in medicine, from enhancing the clinical environment, to supporting treatment, to inspiring conversations that improve services.
Our work is socially engaged and led by principles of co-design. We strive to contribute to our local communities via creative health projects that build relationships and support collaborative working.
Case Study
Black Mother and Baby
This mural is located at the entrance to the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital on Wishart Street. It was developed in partnership between NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and campaigner Rachel Dallas to raise awareness of health inequalities in maternity care.
The painting catalysed discussions about health inequalities and contributed to cultural shifts within our organisation.
“It’s not just a mural”
Read more about the project here: Work completes on giant mural at Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Click on the image below to view our Arts and Social Justice gallery on Flickr.
Animating public spaces
The Animating Public Spaces programme is an innovative, evidence-based initiative designed to enhance healthcare environments. A dynamic programme of performing arts, exhibitions and artist residencies highlights the significant psychological and physiological benefits of arts participation and cultural engagement.
Offering opportunities for emerging and established artists, arts, education, and voluntary sector partners, the programme aims to showcase creative work in healthcare environments. For some people, cultural programming in clinical spaces may provide their only access to the arts, highlighting the importance of this offering.
Art and Green Spaces
Art in the Gart
Art in the Gart seeks to make the best use of hospital grounds and spaces to support inpatient mental health recovery and wellbeing. Our programme includes exhibitions, public art commissions and greenspace activities.
Gartnavel Royal Hospital has a well-established history of using meaningful activities as part of therapeutic treatment programmes. Thanks to this longstanding commitment to enabling creative activity and self-expression, the Art in the Gart initiative emerged in 2013.
Art in the Gart finds its inspiration in the interests, talents and skills of Gartnavel Royal Hospital patients. Activities are as diverse as each individual. The programme grows with each new idea gifted by participants and develops year on year.
Art in the Gart harnesses expertise in the arts and creative media by drawing on the skills and goodwill of volunteers and long-term contacts in education, professional and community arts as well as Third Sector partnerships such as Common Wheel and Project Ability.
This mode of working has contributed to a high-quality hospital experience for our patients. Skilled volunteers enable patient participation and access to a wide range of activities including art workshops across all media, which can be exhibited in the Art in the Gart Gallery Space.
This trailblazing programme has inspired the creation of similar initiatives in mental health settings including Design in the Dale, Levendale Hospital and Stobhill.
Art Commissions
Case Study
Moon Gate
Our approach to healthcare design integrates creativity and attention to aesthetic detail in the development of clinical spaces.
The project ‘waiting room in the park’ opened up a new Springburn Park entrance to the New Stobhill Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic Hospital creating an opportunity for patients, staff and visitors to enter through artist Alec Finlay’s Moon Gate sculpture.
Boulders engraved with poetry, bird boxes and benches engage people further, encouraging use of green space, walking and waiting for medical appointments in a natural environment.
This initiated a shift in thinking that expanded architectural focus beyond the walls of the building to the land surrounding it.
Click on the image below to view our Art and Green Spaces gallery on Flickr.
Health by Design
The aim of this work is to modernise services and improve health through integrated art and design strategies within new buildings, green spaces and refurbishments. Artists work collaboratively with architects and stakeholders in order to improve the environment.
We commission artists to contribute works for permanent installation in our clinical spaces and surrounding green spaces.
Case Studies – Therapeutic Design
Dignified Spaces
Dignified Spaces: Supporting conversations was one of six commissioned projects for the new South Glasgow University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
More than eighty quiet rooms were enhanced as part of the project, using principles of biophilic design to enhance wellbeing. These rooms are used for a range of purposes, of which the most important are conversations between clinical, nursing or spiritual care staff and patients’ relatives and carers.
Find out more: https://www.nicolamurray.com/work/case-studies/nsgh-dignified-spaces/
https://www.artinscotland.tv/2015/dignified-spaces-project/
100 Flowers
100 Flowers is an art collection curated by Clare Phillips on behalf of Ginkgo Projects for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s new South Glasgow University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Over 70 artists contributed by making works for the collection, which is installed across the new buildings.
Some other examples of our Health by Design initiatives:
Art in Medicine
Art in Hospital delivers a comprehensive and ongoing visual arts programme across a wide range of healthcare settings in Glasgow and throughout Scotland.
Originally focused on long-term care for older adults, the programme has expanded to support individuals in rehabilitation and assessment units, those with life-limiting illnesses, young people with physical disabilities, mental health service users, outpatients, and patients undergoing rheumatology treatment, renal dialysis, or palliative care. Through creative engagement, Art in Hospital enhances well-being, self-expression, and the overall healthcare experience.
Useful Resources
The positive impact of creative and performing arts on health and wellbeing is demonstrated by numerous projects across Glasgow and Scotland. These projects bring together professional artists and local community organisations working with a range of media including drawing and painting, digital photography, textiles, video, printmaking, music and drama.
Please see the links below to find out more about creative health initiatives, organisations and research.
Arts in Health
The Buddy Beat
A Renfrewshire drumming group for adults with mental health experience, aimed at promoting social inclusion and helping people self-manage their week.
Culture Health & Wellbeing Alliance
Arts, Culture, Health & Wellbeing, Scotland (ACHWS)
ACHWS has developed into an active Scotland-wide network providing information and support for anyone working across arts and culture, health and wellbeing. It is a collective voice for arts and health in Scotland.
Music in Health
MacDonald, Raymond AR (2013)
Music, health and wellbeing: a review International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Health and Wellbeing
Common Wheel A charity that supports people managing or recovering from mental illness and dementia by providing meaningful activities.
Social Determinants of Health
Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU)
Leave No One Behind (2023) Report on the state of health and health inequalities in Scotland: https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2023/HF_Health_Scotland_Web_Final.pdf
Organisations
Project Ability Creating opportunities through inclusive art for all, providing a welcoming arts community for people with learning disabilities and mental ill-health.
Glasgow Medical Humanities Network
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
British Association of Art Therapists
Creative Health Research
Evidence summary for policy: The role of arts in improving health and wellbeing (2020)
Creative Scotland Arts and Health Map (2021) https://www.creativescotland.com/binaries/content/assets/creative-scotland/resources-and-publications/research/2022/creative-scotland-arts-and-health-mapping-report.pdf