UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre
Art in the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre
We believe that the provision of the arts within UCH Macmillan Cancer is integral to providing a high quality, modern patient-centred NHS. The art within the Cancer Centre provides a talking point for patients and ranges from site-specific commissions in reception areas through to limited edition prints and original paintings from some of the best artistic talent in the UK today.
Why is art in health care so important?
The treatment of patients within the Cancer Centre does not stop at just their medical needs. The approach to patient care within the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre is a holistic one and a positive uplifting environment for that care is vital to the ongoing health of our patients. Art plays an important role in ensuring that patients fell less stressed, less anxious and more positive about their visit to the centre. Recent evidence shows that art in healthcare environments has a number of positive therapeutic and medical outcomes for patients including reduction of stress, reduction of depression and anxiety, reduced blood pressure, reduced pain intensity and therefore reduced need for medication, and improved mental health.
Artist Designed Flooring
Artists Sir Peter Blake, Pure Evil, Morag Myerscough, Grayson Perry and Rob Ryan all produced designs for the floors of the waiting areas (levels 1 -5) throughout the Centre. The designs provide a colourful distraction and talking point for those waiting for consultations or tests within the Centre.
Designs donated by the artists and flooring funded by UCL Hospital Charitable Foundation
Strand by Stuart Haygarth
Stuart Haygarth has created an impressive colourful sculpture within the ground floor atrium space of the Centre. He walked some 450 miles along the coast from Gravesend to Lands End collecting man made objects which now make up a suspended sculpture within the atrium. Patients and staff also contributed their own found objects to the sculpture.
Funded by Michael & Morven Heller Charitable Foundation
Starlings by Mathew Hayes
Mathew Hayes created a dichroic glass artwork depicting starlings in flight for the Macmillan Information Centre. It is a restful and beautiful artwork which responds to the changing light of the day.
Funded by Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Charitable funds and UCL Hospital Charity
Anarchy in the Organism by Simeon Nelson
Simeon Nelson, worked as Artist in Residence for 12 months to create an installation in the Capper Street exploring cancer as a complex system and situating cancer in the discourses of psychology and sociology.
Funded by the Wellcome Trust and UCL Hospital Charitable Foundation
Prints commissioned on the theme of Wellbeing
Selected artists were asked to create a piece of artwork on the theme of ‘Wellbeing’ The art works are humorous, distracting, colourful, thought provoking and ultimately uplifting. The artists involved were Adam Bridgland, Sarah Bridgland, Anthony Burrill Anthony Carr, Andrew Curtis, Erica Donovan, Lucy Gough, Mathew Green, Adam Hayes, Fiona Hepburn, Jack Kettlewell, Tom Leighton, Edd Pearman, Kieren Reed and Abigail Hunt, Jane Ward and Jess Wilson.
Funded UCL Hospital Charity
Armstrong Vinton Furniture
Furniture designers Matthew Armstrong and Simon Vinton have designed a table for the Chemotherapy Department on Level 2 of the Cancer Centre.
Donations
We also received some significant donations of art work from Anthony Gormley, Gillian Ayres, David Montgomery, Patrice Moor, David Jenner, Ishbel Myerscough Chantal Joffe, Milos Biberovic and Susan Collins.
About UCLH Arts & Heritage
UCLH Arts & Heritage is the hospital arts and heritage project that serves UCLH NHS Foundation Trust and its surrounding community and is funded entirely by charitable donations and fundraising. UCLH Arts & Heritage is committed to providing a welcoming, uplifting environment for all patients, visitors and staff through the use of a varied and stimulating arts and heritage programme. Its work aims to improve the patient experience, boost staff morale, increase engagement with the arts and celebrate the Trust’s unique heritage and community.
Since 2005, UCLH has worked to improve patient and staff outcomes through the Arts. It does this in a number of ways, including a changing exhibition and music programme, creative workshops on wards, artist residencies, commissioning site-specific artwork, and a staff culture club. UCLH arts and heritage receives its funding from UCLH Charity and the Friends of UCLH.
Website: https://
Email: uclh.uclharts@nhs.net
Twitter: @uclh
Instagram: @uclh