The second edition of the festival was even bigger and better than the first!
Working in collaboration with Bristol-based arts and health agency Willis Newson, Fresh Arts curated and produced the Fresh Arts Festival to involve hundreds of patients, their families and carers and staff.
Festival visitors enjoyed a lively weekend at the Hospital as it played host to writers, artists, wheelchair dancers, choirs, knitters, woodcarvers, musicians and calligraphers for the two day Fresh Arts Festival.
The aim was to make sure that the arts programme was fully embedded in the working life of the hospital and to celebrate the value it brings to the Trust.
A full programme of creative events and activitie
s made sure that this was one event which could not be missed.
Local choirs from around North Bristol celebrated the fantastic acoustics of the hospital’s large atria, providing a beautiful soundtrack to the weekend.
Woodworking workshops taught participants woodcarving techniques and contributed to a permanent piece of art for the Brunel Building.
Artists visiting from the University of Tsukuba brought traditional and contemporary Japanese crafts to the festival, with a giant Washi Tape installation covering one of the walls in the main Atrium, origami workshops and a chance to try out Shodo brush calligraphy.
At the UK’s Building Better Healthcare Awards in November 2015 the 2014 Festival received the Highly Commended status in two categories, including the Patients’ Choice Award which is selected from every entry, over 200 in total.
Feedback
The Festival was a really vibrant event that engaged both staff and patients who enjoyed everything from origami-making to contributing to the wood work art piece. It was lovely to see young people – the Japanese students and local school choirs – contributing to health and wellbeing in the hospital along with members of community choirs.
Feedback
It is an extraordinary achievement to organise 277 performances in just three days. There was an eclectic series of activities for everybody to celebrate creativity and wellbeing. It was fantastic value for money and others can learn from it.