Step Exhibitions
Creatively Minded and Visual Arts at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital – NHS Lothian Charity
Nominee Information
Tonic Arts is NHS Lothian Charity’s award-winning Arts in Health and Wellbeing programme for staff, patients and visitors in Edinburgh & the Lothians. In partnership with the NHS, specialist arts organisations and cross-sector partners, Tonic Arts programmes include: art & design commissions, art collection provision, temporary exhibitions, artist residencies (including Filmmakers in Residence), participatory arts activities and performances.
The Royal Edinburgh Hospital (REH) is the leading psychiatric hospital for Edinburgh & the Lothians. Situated in the Morningside area of the city, there are a number of inpatient units including six general adult acute wards, an intensive psychiatric care unit, 4 older people’s wards and three rehabilitation wards. Its specialist on-site services include; the care of patients over the age of 65 with functional and organic illnesses such as dementia, specialist services for young people, forensic patients, those with learning disabilities, an eating disorders unit and patients with acquired brain injuries. There are also several out-patient services.
We recently completed a trial surface artwork & mural project, which has been very successful. In fact, it has been so well received that we’ve been asked by the hospital community to roll it out across the site as a wider project. We worked with a very talented local artist Natasha Russell and developed a collaborative programme to enhance two areas of the hospital. Natasha ran various workshops with patients and staff across the site, looking at shape and colour, with a botanical theme. The different groups then developed shapes, colour and artworks for the two chosen areas of the site. Once the designs had been agreed, the surface artworks were then painted by Natasha with the hospital community (see pictures below). This allowed the hospital community to not only have fun and be creative, but to impact the built environment. The work has been very well received.
The strategy Tonic Arts set out its main aim as ‘Creatively enhancing environments and enriching experiences across NHS Lothian’
We evaluate most of our projects to measure our impact and we can confidently say that the work undertaken has a very positive impact on those with mental health conditions. As well as in-patients, we also work with former patients in a volunteer capacity, to help prevent re-admissions.
