Biography
rb&hArts, supported by Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals charity, brings all forms of the arts to patients, visitors and staff.
Over the past 14 years, rb&hArts has established a world-class hospital arts programme, which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff. Research on the impact of arts in healthcare settings shows it can improve clinical outcomes, shorten length of hospital stay, improve mental wellbeing, and support patients to manage long-term conditions.
rb&hArts provides a wide range of arts activities including visual arts, live music and singing. More than 3,500 people take part in arts activities every year.
The arts team manages a permanent collection of 1,200 artworks, which are displayed in patient, staff and public areas. Last year they held 15 temporary exhibitions in public areas such as the coffee shop, offering artwork for sale (in part to generate income for rb&hArts) including work by artists Jennie Ing and Emma Hunter.
The team also supports capital projects, working with colleagues to integrate art into the fabric of the buildings. Most recently this has included new digital wallpaper throughout one of our respiratory wards, created in consultation with patients.
