Arts for Wellbeing

Vital Arts’ Participation Programme brings creativity into hospital life through three strands: Arts Encounters, Creative Pathways, and Innovate with Art. Together, they offer uplifting arts experiences at the bedside, connect patients with creative opportunities beyond hospital, and support new ways of working through artist-clinician collaboration. The programme helps improve wellbeing, strengthens community links, and builds creative health skills across Barts Health.

  • Arts Encounters

    Arts Encounters brings inspiring creative experiences to patients and staff across Barts Trust - from bedside performances to pop-up workshops - making meaningful moments through art part of everyday care.

  • Creative Pathways

    Creative Pathways connects patients with local arts opportunities beyond hospital and supports creative practitioners to co-create bespoke programmes with clinical teams, building skills and capacity in the community.

  • Innovate with Art

    Innovate with Art drives creative health innovation by partnering with researchers, clinicians, and artists to develop and evaluate arts-based projects that improve patient outcomes and address health inequalities across the Trust.

  • Commission workshops

    Artists commissioned by Vital Arts to produce site specific work are invited to spend time with patients, delivering arts workshops and sharing insights into their practice and techniques.

Recent projects

Ian Masters Ian Masters

Being as you mentioned

Artist Ruth Ewan worked with patients across Barts NHS Health Trust to develop a set of flash cards for use in older adults wards

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Creative Health at Barts…

  • A young boy interacts with a craft activity whilst in a hospital bed

    Kazzum Arts

    Arts activities for children at Whipps Cross Hospital

  • A group of musicians play in the entrance of the Royal London Hospital

    The Friends Music Project

    The Friends of the Royal London bring a regular rotation of musicians to RLH

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