Artsparks 2019 Review

Artsparks Review 2019-20

www.artatruh.org Charity no. 1058323

Artsparks, led by our lead artist, Edwina Bridgeman is a weekly patient-led arts workshop that takes place both in the playroom and bed sides on the Childrens’ Ward. The intention is to allow children to enjoy the freedom to produce their own creative work in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental setting. This project is fully inclusive, building relationships with many of our regular patients.

Thanks to the support of Friends of the RUH, Artsparks workshops on the Children’s ward reached 400 patients plus families and staff members in 2019. These weekly sessions are so valuable and make a massive difference to a child’s experience in hospital.

“Young people spending time in hospital experience a range of anxieties, partly as a result of separation from their families, an unfamiliar environment, investigations and treatments and a loss of self-determination.” AllParty Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing Children often start workshops shy and unsure but leave with huge smiles and an enormous sense of achievement. Inevitably this makes the whole ward a happier place.

Art at the Heart of the RUH started art workshops on the ward in 2006; Edwina uses a variety of recycled materials from the scrap store as well as more traditional materials such as good quality paints, pens and paper in her workshops. She describes her Artsparks sessions as very open, no right or wrong. She likes the children to have ownership of the work and to be able to experiment with different materials. Participants get involved in collaborative group work as well as individual artwork, spraying fabric, using wallpaper and pattern books, stickers and pens. Children are proud of their creations and become absorbed in the making. Edwina says she is always delighted at the friendships made in hospital. Mutual support between children and families is very evident.

Recently Edwina has been making puppets and cardboard houses with patients. A simple roll of corrugated cardboard proved irresistible for the children. Young patients really enjoyed the materials, tape, card and pipe cleaners to create buildings. Parents commented on their skill at problem solving, making thing stand up and the

concentration on the project in difficult circumstances. One young patient with the help of his mother made a museum complete with tiny paintings. One little girl [11] said “I was so scared when I came into hospital and now I really don't want to go home! Doing the art has made me feel really different.”

The Arts Society, Bath kindly presented a cheque of £500 for arts materials to our artist, Edwina Bridgeman who works on the Children’s ward. It will make such a difference to the ward to have the arts cupboard well stocked with a lovely range of materials for patients and their families to use.

In a recent workshop, patients have created creatures and characters from old fabric sample books. Many of the parents were very involved as well. Young patients always enjoy seeing their adults engaged in the same activity as them, they all ‘play’ together.

Jo Powell (Play Specialist) Sue Southgate (key raffle team member of The Arts Society, Bath raising funds for Artsparks) and Vicki Davies (Vice-Chair and Treasurer, The Arts Society, Bath), Edwina Bridgeman (AATH Artist in Residence), Lyn Gardiner (Play Specialist)

“Fantastic interaction with children and parents, very enjoyable, also helped keep my son very entertained.” Parent Dementia coordinators also donated some lovely knitted squares that were put to very good use during Artsparks sessions on the Children’s ward (*please see front cover image).

Creativity and wellbeing week was held from 10-16th June in 2019 and there were individuals and organisations working with creativity and culture in relation to health and wellbeing across the country. One young patient arrived in the playroom dressed as a unicorn and proceeded to make an incredible unicorn flag. She was a very talented artist and Edwina was able to signpost her mother to outside opportunities for her. Another patient sat at the table for over an hour using a rainbow crayon. She produced some lovely images that were scanned to exhibit in the hospital. Her father was very impressed with the workshop.

Artist Edwina Bridgeman made a brilliant super hero cape with patients during an Artsparks workshop in National Play in Hospital week 7th – 12th October 2019.

Play in Hospital week raises awareness of the benefits of play in treatment of poorly children across the UK. “My little girl was quite nervous about her operation but the amazing staff in the Children’s ward made her stays very enjoyable with lots of creative activities.

Thank you lovely staff at the RUH.” Parent

“It’s hard to put into words what happens in the Artsparks sessions that I run. They are of course a creative opportunity, a diversion and fun but they are also so much more than this.

In following the children’s lead, carefully listening and genuinely being alongside we have created new worlds; we have flown on magic carpets, built museums and told our stories. The way we create is universal and inclusive. The experience is not exclusively the young patients but often their families and staff as well. This has an incredibly positive impact on the whole ward.

Celebrating and encouraging children’s imagination is important in any situation but in hospital it is vital. Artsparks sessions are a portal.”

Edwina Bridgeman, Artist

Edwina Bridgeman: Case Studies “This activity proved popular and we had a busy morning around the playroom table. We drew and painted on large rectangles of fabric which we then transformed into an outfit, an alternative gown! The activity helped personalise the hospital stay and was a good diversion for the young patients waiting for operations.

Their parents joined in which is always good. Hospital is a place where parents and children get an unexpected opportunity to play together in a safe and supported environment. I spent the latter part of the morning with a young patient at her bedside. She was being barrier nursed so I had to select carefully the materials which I could take to her. She

really enjoyed using the dabber paints and pens and was able to make her own new hospital gown. Her mother was delighted that she had the opportunity despite not being able to get to the playroom.

Four positive feedback forms from this session.”

“A simple roll of corrugated cardboard proved irresistible for the children. Young patients really enjoyed the materials, tape, card and pipe cleaners to create buildings. Parents commented on their skill at problem solving, making thing stand up and the concentration on the project in difficult circumstances. One young patient with the help of his mother made a museum complete with tiny paintings. It was a round building and I was able to show him images of the rotunde Guggenheim in New York. A very happy session with children completely engaged with their making.”

“A busy morning, 6 year old M was in the playroom as I arrived.

He is a patient that I know well. It was wonderful to see him in the playroom as usually he has to have closed sessions without other children present. Initially he played on the new big screen but quickly became interested in what was going on at the table. I asked what he would like to make and he said a parrot. I showed him how to use the newspaper and tape and use a cone as a base. His parrot was really great; he was so pleased with it and was going to take it into school to show the others what he did in hospital. This patient has been very poorly indeed and it was so lovely to see him and his mum able to enjoy time together.”

“Lively morning with lots of little children who all enjoyed the variety of materials. Pets and favourite animals emerged as a theme. The children made beautiful drawings.

Some of the parents said they would get the work framed as a souvenir of a positive hospital experience. Some very upset parents were calmed and reassured by the workshop. A newly diagnosed diabetic [14] spent the whole morning drawing and making.”

“National Play in Hospital Week: Super powers cape. The Play Specialists had requested something special for this week. I went to Bristol’s scrapstore to gather materials and was fortunate to find a large piece of heavy green felt. This gave me the idea of us creating a joint cape of our super powers. The children loved it, soon covering the back of it with their drawings of their super powers, wings, special eyes, the ability to walk through walls, run as fast as horse, the list goes on. They took it in turns to model the cape until we hung it up in the playroom at the end of the day.

Many of the children thought about their illnesses and channeled their thoughts into what they made for the cape.”

“During the morning I had managed to engage a patient with severe allergies, some of which were bought on by stress, the Doctor noted how much calmer the patient had become and asked me to suggest activities to his mother that could be continued at home.”

“Newspaper and Tape Sculpture: I was asked to continue this activity as it had been so popular the week before. In the morning young patients created their favourite animals and were proud of their results. I spent time with an Oncology patient [V] in her room. She really enjoyed making a reindeer. V’s family had arrived including her 17 year old sister and 8 month old brother. I was able to create a special closed session for them in the playroom and all the family worked together to create a scene from newspaper and tape. It was a huge success; it was very special that the family had been able to play together in the playroom as usually V is limited to her room. Play specialists commented on how pleased they were and that I had taken the unitive to create a special play session. V’s mother was visibly moved.”

“Wow! What a workshop…… The playroom was quiet so I spent the majority of the morning with V [Oncology] We transformed her room into a studio and she made a small figure. I suggested that we could scale it up and found suitable materials over lunch. She wanted to create a Christmas Tree person. We managed this, I subsequently learnt that the large sculpture became their Christmas tree at home and had their presents underneath. I have sent images to support all the workshops.”

Total number of patients reached April – Dec 2019 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 April

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Testimonials “My daughter (E) spent a few hours with Edwina today in the playroom. E returned happy, big smiles and excited to show me a beautiful poster drawn on acetate for her brother. E had also made a cushion. We came into A&E via ambulance at 6am, after a traumatic seizure for her brother who has epilepsy, cerebral palsy and special needs.

E has so much to cope with as an older sister to her brother (J) and is a young carer. The opportunity to be with Edwina today has benefited us all – I could stay with J, and E had 1:1 support to do her favourite thing – draw and create.

I can’t thank you enough. Invaluable family service.” Parent “Wow! What a lovely couple of hours! Drawing in the playroom relaxed both me and my poorly boy. Smiles all round!” Parent “This was great! Thank you for making this day a little easier.” Parent “Very good service, excellent equipment, lovely lady. This made all the difference to my granddaughter stay (age 6)” Grandparent “My daughter had been in hospital a couple of weeks and the art activities definitely inspired and focused her on something positive among the tests and treatments. Thank you so much for this!” Parent

Artsparks 2019-20 is generously funded by Friends of the RUH.

Thank you to the Arts Society Bath for raising funds for art materials.

Comment from a Parent highlighting the importance of Artsparks on the RUH Children’s Ward via Social Media‌