The Vacuum Cleaner consultancy project for Newham Hospital
Black and white image of the area identified for new artwork on Glen Road, with a superimposed graphic indicating artwork location
Vital Arts have teamed up with artists Jas Dhillon and James Leadbitter to gather ideas and reflections that will help shape a new artwork for Glen Road.
The current mural has welcomed people to the hospital for many years, and this next phase is an opportunity to develop a new artwork and landscaped area that welcome everyone, reduces any anxiety about coming to hospital, and represents the diversity of the staff and wider borough of Newham.
Follow the link below to respond to a series of questions that explore thoughts, feelings and experiences connected to welcome and care. The artwork will be the first point of contact for many staff and patients coming to the hospital.
Your responses will help inform an artist brief for the next stage of the project, alongside ideas gathered through in-person listening sessions with patients, staff and visitors.
Please answer the questions honestly, and in whatever way you feel comfortable. There are no right or wrong answers in art!
If your response includes personal stories or memories, please avoid naming individuals. Any material shared publicly will be anonymised.
Responses will be reviewed alongside wider consultation activity and used to inform the development of the final artist brief.
Enjoy!
The first consultation sessions took place on the paediatric wards at Newham Hospital, where children shared drawings, colours, ideas and reflections about welcome, care and what a hospital should feel like. These early workshops are helping to build a shared bank of images, feelings and stories that will inform the next stage of the project.
About the artists
Jas Dhillon is an artist whose practice is shaped by her Punjabi-Sikh heritage and explores memory, objects, stories, the senses and emotional connection. Her work often creates thoughtful spaces for reflection, drawing on personal and collective experiences to invite conversation and care.
James Leadbitter (The Vacuum Cleaner) is an artist and activist whose work explores mental health, systems of care and public life through socially engaged practice. Working collaboratively with communities, his projects often use conversation, participation and creative experimentation to open up complex ideas in accessible ways.
