ART IN MENTAL HEALTHCARE SETTINGS


Multidisciplinary illustrator and designer, Jasmin Sehra, is among a raft of talented artists to have taken part in the Hospital Rooms Digital Art School.


mental health service-users through digital platforms. Collaborating closely with the NHS, our goal is to democratise access to arts and creativity, enriching the lives of patients nationwide. Our team of artist tutors comprises individuals with extraordinary talent and a deep understanding of mental health services, many of whom share lived experiences. They’ll lead a diverse range of creative sessions designed to uplift and transform the environments in which they’re delivered. Leveraging various mediums, such as video, printed materials, live streams, and online presentations, the Digital Art School operates as a decentralised model, reaching even the most remote and unexpected corners of the country.


In tandem with these efforts, we’re


committed to gathering insights and evaluating the specific needs, behaviours, and outcomes, of both facilitators and participants. We’re keen to encourage everyone involved, whether service-users or members of the wider public, to share their artworks in our online gallery. This platform not only fosters connection within the Digital Art School community, but also serves as a source of inspiration and hope for all. Building upon insights gleaned from our


previous iteration, we’ve learned invaluable lessons that are guiding our approach to the upcoming relaunch of the Digital Art School. Through thorough evaluation and feedback mechanisms, we’ve gained a deeper understanding of the diverse needs, preferences, and challenges, faced by both facilitators and participants. This understanding has enabled us to fine-tune our programme, ensuring that it remains responsive and relevant to the evolving landscape of mental healthcare.


Importance of accessibility One key takeaway from our evaluations has been the importance of accessibility and inclusivity. We’ve recognised the need to make our workshops easily accessible to all, regardless of geographical location or physical ability. We are prioritising the provision of British Sign Language


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and closed captions, as well as making the content on-demand so that it can be accessed at any time. In addition, we are motivated by the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our participants, and are actively working to incorporate a wide range of artistic styles and themes into our workshops. Furthermore, our evaluations have


underscored the significance of creating a supportive and empowering environment for both facilitators and participants. We’ve observed the transformative impact of creative expression on mental wellbeing, and are committed to fostering a safe and nurturing space where individuals feel valued and heard. This entails providing comprehensive training and support for any workshop facilitators, mainly Occupational Therapists and activity coordinators. By equipping them with the necessary tools and resources, we aim to empower them to lead sessions that are both engaging and meaningful. An important feature of our programme has been the provision of high-quality art materials to wards to enable participation in the workshops. To date, through targeted fundraising and in-kind support from Colart and Winsor & Newton, we have been able to provide materials to 50 units,


Nafeesa Arshad


Nafeesa Arshad is the Digital Art School Producer at Hospital Rooms. Nafeesa brings her diverse background in marketing and production across digital and design projects to spearhead the growth and innovation of the Digital Art School for the next three years.


Haley Moyse Fenning


Haley Moyse Fenning is Head of Impact for Hospital Rooms. Haley specialises in evaluating and evidencing the impact of access to art and art-making for adults and young people with severe and enduring mental illness. She credits an encounter with the work of artist, Rashid Johnson, for her passionate belief in the transformative power of the visual arts, and Hospital Rooms’ Digital Art School community ‘for underlining it every day since’.


MAY 2024 | THE NETWORK


three times a year, through an open call process. We quickly realised that demand far outweighed supply, underscoring the lack of access to materials for wards, and the difficult process often faced by staff trying to procure them – including limited or no budget, having to buy lower quality cheaper materials in bulk, or simply not having the time to plan and shop for them. Anecdotes emerged through our interviews with facilitating NHS staff demonstrating that the art materials boxes had been impactful in three key ways: enabling participation, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation for the workshops, and helping service-users to feel a sense of ‘luxury’ owing to the quality and variety of the materials. One service- user told their activity coordinator that opening the box together as a group when it arrived ‘felt like Christmas’.


Packing over 600 boxes As part of the 2024 re-launch, we are thrilled to now be able to bring these sentiments to all NHS mental health units in England; at the time of writing, our team are diligently packing over 600 boxes of materials for distribution across the country.


In planning, designing, and filming Digital Art School workshops, we are considerate of the unique challenges posed by the digital format. We’ve learned that effective communication and clear instructions are essential for facilitating authentic interactions in a virtual setting. As such, we have invested in a high-quality filming format and production techniques to ensure that our workshops are engaging and accessible to all. Ultimately, our goal is to build upon the


successes of our previous iteration while addressing any shortcomings identified through our evaluations. By prioritising accessibility, inclusivity, and empowerment, we aim to create a Digital Art School that not only enriches the lives of mental health service-users, but also fosters a sense of community, connection, and hope for everyone that engages with it.


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