Coming to GOSH
GO Create!
Arts and Humanities programme
Creative projects
Artist in residence
– The
Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Award
Elephant Day Care, summer 2005
The
Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Award is an annual artist in residence
project which is based in a different NHS hospital for the next five years.
The scheme is funded by the Max Reinhardt Charitable Trust and the first
residency took place at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH)
during summer 2005.
The artist in residence provided opportunities
for patients, visitors and staff to observe and participate in
the creative processes of an artist, while also creating an original artwork
to become part of the growing GOSH art collection. A second artwork for
the Painting
in Hospital’s collection which is then made available to
other hospitals through its loan scheme.
The residency took place in Elephant day care between June and September
2005. This was followed by an exhibition of the artist’s work at Paintings
in Hospital’s gallery at the Menier Chocolate Factory in March 2006. The
artwork produced for GOSH is now on display in the lift lobby near to Elephant
day care.
Artist Sean Michael carried out stimulating and enjoyable workshops in
the waiting areas, providing patients with opportunities for self-expression,
producing art works which improve the hospital environment and appeal to
a wide age group. Sean was selected for the residency from over 100 applicants
and had a wide range of artistic skills, with experience as an auxiliary
nurse and as a teacher, as well as being a practising artist.
All the children who participated had very much enjoyed being involved
in these activities and parents said the activities made waiting times less
stressful and their hospital visit generally more enjoyable. Parents and
children expressed the view that artworks and projects like this made the
hospital more welcoming and less intimidating. Sean also enjoyed his residency
at GOSH.
‘I really enjoyed working with GOSH patients and felt privileged.
The children were among the nicest I have ever worked with
and it seems an incredibly effective place to work as an artist…‘
UCL Institute of Child Health
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust