News
NEW HOSPITAL PROGRAMME ART COMMISSIONS
Sophy Ricket, Untitled (nature Study6), 2009
Barts and The London Trust is currently undergoing a major redevelopment programme. The Royal London will be
Britain's biggest new hospital, with London's leading trauma and emergency care centre. It will include one of the
UK's largest children's hospitals, as well as one of Europe's largest renal units. Barts will become a state-of-the-art
Cancer and Cardiac Centre of Excellence, incorporating services currently provided at The London Chest Hospital
Vital Arts are commissioning an extensive visual arts programme for these new hospitals incorporating work in a
diverse range of media by established and emerging artists.
WINNER OF THE RAHERE ASSOCIATION COMMISSION ANNOUNCED: Richard Wentworth
for a permanent artwork that is inspired and informed by the long and distinguished history of Barts.
This major new site-specific work will be installed for the enjoyment of patients in the new Barts Cancer Centre September 2010.
Please visit our New Hospital Commissions page to find out more about this and our extensive plans for the new hospitals at Barts and The Royal London.
OTHER COMMISSION NEWS
Artist Jacques Nimki is 'bringing the outside in' for the Children's A&E department at Royal London,
with a new public art commission inspired by the beauty of the wildflowers found around hospital. 
Detail of artwork by Jacques Nimki Royal London Hospital Children's A&E
To read more about Jacques Nimki's commission click here.
PARTICIPATION NEWS
RE MIX
NEW FILM CLUB AT ROYAL LONDON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Vital Arts' Film Club will continue in the hospital school next year, in partnership with Rich Mix, the multi-arts venue in east London. Teachers are attending CPD sessions in Film Making and Film Literacy to look at ways in which film can enhance the curriculum. Young patients attend film screenings, discussions and practical film-making workshops and have the chance to see their own films on the big screen. Everyone involved receives a DVD of their short film to take home to share with friends and family.
CHISENHALE GALLERY: DEAR DIARY
Daniel is also providing ongoing Continual Professional Development sessions with hospital staff, looking at ways in which the Play Specialist team can continue to work with patients to create books on a wide variety of themes after the residency has finished.
LABAN Dance Rehabilitation
We were thrilled to collaborate with LABAN, one of the world's finest centres for professional contemporary dance, on a five-week residency on the children's wards of the Royal London this summer. These fun and fully inclusive sessions were devised to support occupational and physiotherapy rehabilitation. Specialist dance facilitators brought dance, play and creative movement to patients' bedsides, encouraging children of all ages and abilities to participate in playful, physical activities that support future functioning, learning and health.
CITY OF LONDON FESTIVAL
Kasai Masai
As part of the City of London Festival, Vital Arts have organised a series of free lunchtime concerts during July and August featuring stringed instruments from around the globe. Following each public performance musicians will play solos and duets on the wards at Barts for patients, staff and visitors. Each event will be at 12.30pm-2pm in the Square at Barts and will be open to the public as well as to staff and patients in the hospital.
The City of London Festival is organising a wide range of events at different venues across the City during July and August. More information can be found on the festival website at www.colf.org.
This summer concert series is supported by The Rahere Foundation.
BARTS AND THE LONDON NHS TRUST OPEN DAY
Royal London Hospital
Wednesday 15 September, 12 - 3pm
She'Koyokh (12 - 1.30pm) London’s award-winning klezmer ensemble performing Ashkenazi Jewish, Eastern European, Balkan and Turkish folk music
Trio Manouche (1.30 - 3pm) World class gypsy swing ensemble performing the works of Django Reinhardt and their own original compositions in the style of Hot Club de France
Miss Ballooniverse (12 - 3) The incredible balloon modeller will be roaming the marquee, injecting colour, glamour and fun with favourite characters, outrageous costumes and elegant jewellery - all made from balloons!
As part of Barts and The London NHS Trust Open day, all performers will be venturing into the hospital to entertain patients and staff in wards and waiting areas. The delightful Trio Manouche will perform in the Royal London Outpatients foyer from 12.15 - 1pm. Klezmer extraordinaires She'Koyokh will entertain patients at their bedsides from 2 - 3pm and Miss Ballooniverse will be bringing her glamour, style, grace and balloons to fascinate and tantalize inpatients with outrageous balloon sculptures, creatures and haute couture.
APPLES AND SNAKES
Apples and Snakes are visiting the Royal London Children's Hospital to deliver a series interactive storytelling and craft workshops for young patients over the school holidays. Fun and interactive workshops will explore the way poetry comes alive through word games to make language more interesting and interactive. Poet Jared Louche will perform some of his poems and build group poems while interactive storyteller Jan Blake will be engaging children with a variety of long and short tales from Africa.
Supported by The Sick Children's Trust
CITY OF LONDON SINFONIA - REMINISCENCE WORKSHOPS
Vital Arts have teamed up with one of London's leading orchestras the City Of London Sinfonia. This exciting new partnership will deliver interactive music workshops on the specialist Geriatric and Stroke Units at the Royal London Hospital
LATEST LIMITED EDITION PRINTS
A beautiful limited edition print specially created by Turner Prize nominee Catherine Yass
as part of a commission for The London Chest is now available to purchase with proceeds
in support of The Bobarth Centre for Cerebral Palsy.
Acclaimed artist Bob and Roberta Smiths' has produced a very special limited edition print of
'Bird Search' based on The Demtanpet of Ogolothinry (Or The Department of Ornithology),
a recent public art commission for the Barts and The London NHS Trust Health and Wellness Centre.
Please see our shop for full list of all our unique limited edition prints
CONCERT DATES
Click here to see a list of the latest FREE LUNCHTIME CONCERTS at The Royal London Hospital
.
VITAL ARTS INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNTIES
Vital Arts offers short and long-term internships. These provide an opportunity to gain practical experience working
in a busy arts and health organisation delivering a wide ranging programme for the benefit of patients, staff and the
wider community.
We can offer you:
• Invaluable practical experience and insight into working with contemporary visual arts, live music and performance, as well as arts education
• Opportunities to meet and work with artists, network with the visual arts and live art sector
• Opportunities to work within a small team and to contribute to programme planning and development, and to develop specific interests
• Advice and guidance on a career in the arts
• Travel expenses (within central London zone)
What we expect from you:
• Undergraduate or postgraduate in art practice, theory, administration, curatorship
• Commitment and enthusiasm
• Interest and engagement in contemporary art and the Vital Arts programme
• Willingness to undertake a wide range of duties and a range of computer skills
Applications for short and long-term internships (minimum 2 days a week) are welcome, depending on Vital Arts programme and availability.
If you would like to be considered please send your curriculum vitae and a covering letter detailing your interests, timescale and availability,
by post or email to
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