The idea came about during the COVID-19 pandemic when therapeutic activities in the community were restricted due to hospital lockdowns. In an attempt to boost morale, hopefulness and activity engagement, the Occupational Therapy team decided to hold an art competition for both service users and staff.
The art competition took place over the course of 5 months to allow everyone to experiment with different mediums of art and produce an entry that was meaningful to them. The art exhibition day was planned to take place during Mental Health Awareness Week with the focus on loneliness. Holding an art competition has encouraged positive peer interaction and provided both patients and staff a sense of belonging, togetherness and camaraderie.
The theme of the art competition was based on ‘Identity’. Service Users and staff were invited to submit an entry based on any medium of art including painting, photography, collage, 3D art, poetry, music etc. They were encouraged to produce a piece of art that expresses who they are, their likes, hopes and dreams.
Adrian Ashurst (Specialist Trainer) was invited to take part in the judging the entries for the art competition. On the day, a room was transformed into an art exhibition with entries beautifully displayed on easels and a wooden display board made by the maintenance staff. All who entered were awarded with certificates for participation and 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes were also given. The exhibition day brought the hospital together with service users and staff taking time to look at the entries.
From the service user category, the top three winners included: an original song co-produced with an external music producer that conducts weekly music sessions with patients at Cygnet Sherwood House, a painting and a drawing.
On the day of the art exhibition we had everyone wear green to represent mental health, and one service user even painted himself green! Some staff came in to participate even though it was their day off. Other activities included baking cakes and meeting some alpacas who visited us, which everyone loved!
Thanks to thank Mike, the music producer, for all of his hard work with patients and a big thanks Adrian Ashurst and all staff at Cygnet Sherwood House for helping to make this day happen including the hospital manager, support workers, maintenance, kitchen and domestic staff.
