Ruth Jacobs, Arts Coordinator

1
Ruth Jacobs, Arts Coordinator

• Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
• 0117 342 8807 Ruth.Jacobs_at_uhbristol.nhs.uk

2
An overview of the Arts Programme

• Aims and objectives of the Arts Programme
• The hospital environment
• The artists
• The projects

3
Purpose of Arts Coordinators Role

• Artists performances and artist-led participatory
  workshops / courses at various locations around
  the Hospital
• Identifying, selecting, editing, mounting and
  hanging the changing exhibitions and display
  materials around the hospital,
• Purchasing / commissioning new permanent art
  works and maintaining existing art works and
  installations.

4
The Hospital Environment

• Can be frightening and stressful
• Art has to work around medical priorities
• Art should provide positive benefits for all
• Operates within a series of communities
• Art allows playtime for children and families

5
The Artists What I look for in an artist

• Enjoys working with children
• Exciting ideas that children will engage with
• Ability to devise suitable activities to include
  as many children as possible
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to cope with the hospital environment

6
2008 Arts Activities Highlights from 3 projects

• 1/ Lumsden Walker Service Photography Project

7

• 12 weekly sessions April to July 2008
• Participants were boys aged 8 to 13 with their
  parents / carers
• Led by experienced photographer Liz Milner
• Lots of enjoyable and challenging activities that
  bonded the group
• Final exhibition - achievement factor

8
(No Transcript)
9
Jane Weeks,  Child Mental Health Specialist
said,

• The photography groupis enabling participants to
  have a positive, sharing, experience with a peer
  group and their parents/carers.
• They have been observed undertaking many things
  which they have struggled with ordinarily. This
  is a big step forward for them considering the
  complexity of mental health difficulties they
  present with at this time.
• It further provides their parents/carers with an
  opportunity to see them in a situation where they
  are having success and are enjoying themselves.

10
2/ Remix Music Technology

• Worked with Remix, Bristol City Councils Youth
  Music Action Zone
• Project led by experienced tutor, Phil King
• Children made up songs, raps, theme tunes, sang,
  played instruments, used sampled music and
  recorded tracks for their own CDs
• Weekly sessions in the Hospital
• Working with small groups and individuals
• Included staff training
• Performance by Remix Young Peoples choir at Xmas

11
3/ The Extraordinary Land of Lollipops

• Led by dramatist Rich Hughes, storyteller Martin
  Maudsley, and musician Liz Purnell.
• A series of 10 workshops involving children of
  all ages over summer 2008
• Included visual art, storytelling, acting, making
  sound effects, recording and singing songs
• 10 track CD produced which was used for
  interactive art installation

12
once upon a lollipop!
13
Low spots of the programme?

• Therapeutic music and dance sessions summer 2008
  why not a success?
• Space restrictions
• Physically too demanding
• Artist not comfortable
• Programming issues and staffing

14
Conclusion

• Evaluation what evaluation?
• Taking photos and talking to people
• Attendance records
• Reporting to funders
• My favourite projects

15
(No Transcript)