 |
 |
 |
 |
Arts
in healthcare
Buildings
are understood in many different ways. There are of course the mechanics,
the layout, the function, the organisation of circulation space and clinical
space for example, but there is also the mood, the feel of the building.
In hotels or shops for example there is a direct and simple co-relation
between the purpose and the feel. Health however is much more complex.People
use health facilities whilst experiencing a variety of emotions, some
will be extremely stressful others familiar and routine, all will be concerned
with the physical or mental well being of themselve or someone they care
for.
The mood of the building helps the mood of those using it. Health facilities
have a high demand made on them, they have to be first and formost functional.
They have to endure a large volume of users, making a difference is difficult
as many solutions available in hotels or shops to use our earlier example
are inappropriate. But, remarkably, art isn’t, it is both appropriate
and effective.
It is now well proven and being accepted in new build as a normal and
expected inclusion.
Artists, at thier best, reflect a concern for humanity.
Engagement in making an artwork is very often a response to the wonder
of the human experience and attempts to express and understand this. It
is often generous and can even be noble. It is something of this that
makes it so good in health.
There is a natural affinity between the arts and the health communities.
There are of course more practical reasons, very often new buildings take
over from old, these can have sentimental attachments for those who worked
in them, carrying some elements of the old into the new can smooth the
transition.
Public finance initiatives are seen by some health proffessionals as difficult,
the art can help to mitigate this. If the new building’s owners
support integrated arts projects this flags up a willingness to recognise
the importance of the ephemeral values. Naming areas, new wards for example
can be a difficult and sensitive problem, the varts project can be a vehicle
for solving this.
The inclusion of an arts project is by far the most cost effective way
a new building can be helped to generate a changed feeling towards healthcare
provision.
back
to top of page