The arts for health team are working with artists, children, young people and local communities to create a number of artworks to exhibit in the new centre when it opens in September 2012.
One of the projects we are up and running with is the main entrance art commissions. With money raised from Arts Council England, there has been an extensive selection process to determine three artists to create a piece of public art (in consultation with service users and staff) for the main entrances of the buildings in the new centre.
The artists we have selected are:
Schools Project in partnership with Speight of the Art, Telford College of Arts and Technology (TCAT), Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology (SCAT) and 15 primary schools from Shropshire and Telford.
The idea behind the schools project is to work with professional artists and children from the region – to create a body of smaller work that could be used to decorate every bedroom within the Redwoods Centre! The children are working at both colleges with a range of professional artists to create the work. Themes of well-being, happiness and also the Olympic messages are being used and a variety of media. Over 400 children will take part and it will help to spread positive messages about the new centre and the improved service, plus enlighten the children about mental health issues – contributing to the anti-stigma campaign. There will be a central exhibition of all the work in the summer before the work is installed into the centre. Local artists involved in the project are: Anne Kinnaird, Davina Allen, Mairi Turner, Sarah Evans, Denise O’Sullivan Debbie Todd and Oliver Jones.
The first workshop took place on Monday 16th April and the pictures show some of the children and artists in action. We are grateful to all partners involved in the project for their support.
Organisers of an exciting heritage project at Shelton hospital have engaged volunteers to help gather memories of the hospital and collect images and artefacts relating to its history. In September 2012 Shelton Hospital will close as services move into the new Redwoods Centre.
Working with the newly appointed Heritage Project Officer, Dave Reeves, volunteers will be able to gain valuable new skills and obtain specialist training from the Oral History Society. They will help collect information from staff and service users past and present, which will contribute to exhibitions, publications and a celebratory piece of public art. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to liaise with the county archives and to train in the latest collecting techniques. Dave Reeves said:
“This is a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in Shelton Hospital to be involved with celebrating its’ history and place in the community. It is also a chance for those with an interest in the growing heritage sector to gain valuable skills.”
Dave is a historian and heritage writer who has recently completed an oral history of two former hospitals in Walsall. In Shropshire, he previously created the Ballads for Bomere Heath, a unique cd-rom and website of the parish’s story, and is also currently involved in a project with Wolverhampton Museum and Wrockwardine Wood Arts College, Telford.
Dave and the volunteers are busy networking to find people who may have a story to tell, a photograph, memory or item that they would like to share with the project.
We are also holding a Memory Fayre at Shelton on Wednesday 23 May, 2pm – 5pm, where anyone can come along and see what artefacts we have already gathered plus an opportunity to contribute to this exciting project. Our artist in residence will also be asking visitors to contribute to a mosaic project – a view of the front of the hospital – which will be installed in the new Redwoods Centre as a memory of the old Shelton.
Memory Fayre – Wednesday May 23rd, Shelton Hospital, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury SY3 8DN.
If you would like more information about the project then contact Dave Reeves at Shelton.Heritage@sssft.nhs.uk or call 07794 242301.
Chris and his son Dan have been bringing some beautiful music and entertainment to the people at the George Bryan Centre over the last 3 months. Chris is a saxophonist and his son Dan is a pianist and together they make sweet music! They have been playing a range of jazz, popular and some light classical music at the centre on alternate Wednesdays and offering people an insight into the world of music via a fun quiz too.
The last session took place on Wednesday 21st March – a beautiful Spring day where the audience listened to songs such as Honeysuckle Rose by Fats Waller, some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Hello Dolly by Jerry Herman and the lyrical Londonderry Air (or Danny Boy) which was requested by one of the people in the audience.
On this particular occasion Chris and Dan were joined by Charlotte Pearson a local opera singer – who is keen to support the Trust by offering a couple of musical sessions at the centre. She came along to see what Chris and Dan were up to and they persuaded her to sing a couple of songs – she sang Summertime from Porgy and Bess and also Getting to Know You from The King and I. Charlotte has the most beautiful professional voice and it was such a treat for the people at the centre to have such a wonderful mini concert from someone so talented. We hope that Charlotte will return to the centre sometime over the next few months to deliver a few sessions to the people there.
Some comments from staff and service users:
Staff:
SONGS FOR YOU’S FIRST BIRTHDAY!
The Trust’s community singing project for people with dementia and their carers celebrated its first birthday last week in party style, with some of their 26 regular participants – pictured.
The project is now being piloted in Bridgnorth and Wem, and organisers hope to be able to continue with these much-loved sessions. WE are currently looking for further funding to support these sessions across Shropshire and also to develop the event in South Staffordshire next year.
“These singing sessions have been one of the best things my Mum is able to do. Music appears to tap into a person where mere words cannot. It has been a joy to accompany Mum and learn new songs for me too – the sessions are invaluable – not only for those with dementia, but the carers too!” For any information about current projects within arts for health, please contact: Jessica kent, Arts for Health Co-ordinator on 07814 752783.