History of GHAT

The Aberdeen Hospitals Art Project was launched in 1986 by a team of local clinicians and artists, led by Mr. Norman Mathieson, an eminent surgeon at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

During June – December 1986 an inaugural exhibition of some 100 paintings, prints and photographs, donated by individual local artists, Aberdeen Artists Society and Peacock Printmakers were displayed in the spacious and well lit exhibition area in the Lower Ground Floor of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The donation of these works to Grampian Hospitals Art Project was a magnificent gesture by the local arts community, and formed the beginnings of what is now the GHAT collection comprised of more than 4,000 artworks.

In the early days of the Arts Project, Norman Mathieson wrote,

“The purpose of the Arts Project is to enhance the amenity of the public areas of the Aberdeen Hospitals through the acquisition and display of original works of art, largely of North-East origin.  The scope of the Arts Project is to be unlimited now and in future years, with concentration on the visual arts in the form of paintings, prints, photography, sculpture and craft.  We aim to create focal points of interest and beauty to the benefit of patients, staff and the general public and to involve the local artistic community in this venture.”

The Aberdeen Hospitals Art Project officially became a Trust on the 7th of February 1991 and was renamed as Grampian Hospitals Art Trust. As a registered trust and a registered charity GHAT’s activities have been funded by Endowments and supported by volunteers including the group of Art Advisors who give their time and energy unstintingly.

During the two decades since its beginning, GHAT has gone from strength to strength. The establishment of a job-share position for two Curators during the last few years has proved a great success, and, in conjunction with our Art Advisors, has helped us to improve the quality of purchasing and our programme of exhibitions.

GHAT’s core team copes with a rapidly growing demand for art of diverse kinds in Grampian health-care spaces, which has lately expanded into areas such as the spoken and written word, and we are increasingly able to involve patients and staff in creative activities.  A further string to our bow of late is a move towards engagement in research projects, with the intention of improving our understanding of how creative activities improve well-being and assist the healing process.