GHAT and the 8 commissioned artists and studios for the Baird and ANCHOR Arts Project have been busy engaging with NHSG staff, patients and visitors around the artworks going into the new NHS Grampian facilities, The Baird Family Hospital and The ANCHOR Centre.
These sessions were integral to the design and creation of the artwork for the Baird and ANCHOR facilities. Stakeholder engagement is an important part of the GHAT process when commissioning and creating new work for any NHS Grampian facility.
The art sessions have been delivered across various departments and wards in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital over the past few months. They have included different activities devised by the artists to ensure they have the information they need to start the design phase of their project.
It has been rewarding to hear everyone’s thoughts about the artwork going into these new facilities, their likes and dislikes, and their feeling about the new buildings.
The ANCHOR Centre artists Rachael Champion, Mark Nixon and Viliina Koivisto from NEON Studio and Paula Thompson, hosted a variety of creative activities ranging from the use of 3D materials and clay, stickers, and colour swatches to create mood boards, and quilling. They looked at subjects ranging from colours, light, and local landscapes to local industries.
The Baird Family Hospital artists Joseph Hillier, Colin Davies, Mark Nixon and Viliina Koivisto from NEON Studio, Emma Varley, Louise Kirby, and Marion Parola and Yvonne Elliott-Kellighan from Bespoke Atelier, brought along origami kits, colouring activity booklets, 3D sculptures, collage kits containing colour swatches, vinyl, acrylic and printed imagery to deliver their sessions.
All the artists devised their own questionnaires specific to their commission. There were printed versions which people filled out on the day and online versions which can all be found by clicking on the button below. Please feel free to fill out any you are questionnaires you are interested in.
For the people unable to come along on the day art packs containing the activity, instructions and questionnaires have been left with the wards and are still being collected.
Here are some examples of what people had to say;
‘Lots of green gives you a feeling of hope’
Patient
‘Just to have some outdoor spaces would be amazing!’
Staff member
‘Soft colours, heritage, fishing industry and rural industry forms and visuals. Inspiration from the Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire landscape’
Patient
‘Bright colours, artworks that evoke conversation. The space should feel open with visual stimulation’
Patient
‘Positive and friendly artwork that makes everyone feel proud to be in the new building’
Staff member
‘Something which evokes outdoor space, the light, colours and sounds of nature, artwork that resets your body’
Patient
‘A distraction for patients, somewhere they can escape to’
Staff member
‘Important to have places where you can take patients outside, it makes them happier, places of escapism’
Staff member
You can also find out more about Baird & ANCHOR Arts Project GHAT webpage;
