Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in collaboration with University of Lincoln Fine Arts – Eradication of Dormitories courtyard mindfulness art installations – Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Nominee Information

As part of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (LPFT) Eradication of Dormitories scheme for Acute Inpatient Services, the design and construction for two 19-bedded acute inpatient mental health wards opened the opportunity for the project team to work in collaboration with the University of Lincoln’s (UoL) Fine Art students. Following extensive project team engagement with senior course colleagues, subsequent workshops were held with UoL students and inpatients within our existing inpatient settings to collaboratively design and create two pieces of artwork for display within the patient’s integral courtyards.

The theme and vision of the creation supported our LPFT vision to create a space and focus for active mindfulness, taking into consideration nature, our beautiful landscapes of Lincolnshire and associated architecture and therapeutic colour within the design. The creativity of our patients, alongside the highly skilled art students from the UoL, produced magnificent pieces of art which are now proudly on display within our courtyards. The art design was digitally transferred onto fully supported sustainable weatherproof products and using patient safety approved installations, will now provide years of viewing for our Lincolnshire inpatients to support the need for grounding, ascertain peace and aide tranquillity during the most difficult times of a patient’s mental health journey whilst receiving care and treatment within inpatient services.

Since the opening of our new wards in June 2023, we have reported an increase of patient use within the courtyards and seating is placed appropriately near the art display to encourage patients to view the intricacies of detail within the design. Staff have positively reported that patients gravitate to this area and often spend suitable amounts of time focussing on the images, away from the main ward areas which can often be busy and over stimulating. Staff also use the artwork to initiate conversation and discussions with patients and aide de-escalation and grounding techniques.

The collaboration with our university colleagues has opened doors for discussions around mental health, particularly the connection with poor mental health that resonates within the university and associated pressures students face within their academic life. By holding engagement workshops and enabling the UoL students to meet with our inpatients, it has proven to be such a positive and wholesome experience to support the reduction of stigma associated with mental health and to raise the awareness of the vulnerabilities that all individuals can, and often do face, regarding mental health distress within all walks and ages of life. Therefore, the workshops supporting our scheme have proven to be so much more than the artwork itself.

A truly inspiring example of collaboration between healthcare settings and our wider community educational services, empowering individuals to be creative, share goals and achievements and work together to create artistic masterpieces for all to enjoy.