Hospital Arts Programme

Talking, Listening and Learning

St John's, Western General,

Royal Infirmary and Royal Edinburgh

July - September 2018

 Hospital Activities Programme
July - September 2018

Introduction to Programme

Artlink offers activities across hospitals, involving people from many different
backgrounds. Their involvement informs what we do and how we do it. Over the
years we have looked for ways to get those different voices heard, often through
participation in workshops, performance and writing.

For this edition of the Hospital Arts programme we have asked Elaine Gallagher
who has been volunteering with Artlink in hospitals to take over the writing of this
programme.

Its been interesting for us to see our work through Elaine’s eyes, as she highlights the
importance of chatting to patients and taking time to listen to them; things that we
perhaps take for granted but we know are crucial within all the work that we do.

We would like to thank Elaine for her contribution and hope you enjoy the
programme.

Guest Introduction

Hello everyone, I am Elaine Gallagher and I’m
a writer and a poet. I’ve been volunteering with
Artlink for a few years now and for this edition
of the programme they have asked me to write
about Artlink’s work from my, very particular,
point of view.
© Albie Clark (2)

I love doing my regular workshop spot, Elaine’s

Book and a Blether, because once a month I
get to go to the wards in the Edinburgh Royal

Talking, Listening
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 Talking, Listening and Learning

Infirmary to read to the patients, chat with them and listen to their stories. Every visit is
different; I see new faces each time and people have a wide variety of tastes in what
they want me to read to them.

There are often times when someone doesn’t want to be read to, they just want the
company, so we take the time to just sit and have a chat. We’ll tell each other jokes
and they’ll tell me about themselves, and we’ll have a blether for a while.

My visits are often one-to-one as the wards

I go to are for short-stay patients. This
works well as it offers some social time for
patients who are often very lonely on the
ward. I know that my volunteering helps
to break up their day, and their smiles and
chat are my reward.

Artlink do many more activities in the

hospitals. To support staff and patients
they put on activities that help to build
friendships and a sense of community,
bringing ideas and music, colour and life
to the wards.

The sense of community that Artlink

encourages on wards is important to the well-being and recovery of the patients.
It breaks up the routine so that time on the wards feel less isolating. The workshops
and activities also encourage the sharing of stories and experiences and encourage
people who are going through similar experiences, to talk to each other.

I was asked to interview staff, artists and patients at St John’s, the Royal Infirmary, the

Talking, Listening
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Talking, Listening and Learning
Western General, and The Royal Edinburgh Hospital to look at specific projects which
build that sense of community in the hospital or make links to the wider community for
patients.

What have I learned from meeting with people and joining in some of the activities?
Artlink puts on activities that help people who are elderly or have long term illness to
take their lives back.

WORKSHOP
IMAGES FROM
ANNE

© Anne Elliot

WORKSHOP IMAGES
FROM ANNE

WORKSHOP IMAGES

Talking, Listening
4 and Learning
 © Anne Elliot
St John’s
Visual Arts Workshops
 St John’s

Visual Arts Workshops on Pentland Court

Introduction

Artist Anne Elliot runs a drop-in arts workshop once a week in Pentland Court at St
John’s Hospital. She uses these sessions to get to know patients and find out what
their interests are. Anne begins to make links for them to their local communities. The
day I visited, Anne had brought old record sleeves from the seventies and eighties;
jazz and blues, funk and soul. We made collages out of Carole King and Roger
Waters album covers, and talked about song lyrics and favourite songs.

I spoke to the house staff about what kind of difference Anne’s activities make to the
people in Pentland Court. Firstly they told me that the house provides supported
accommodation, to rehabilitate people from other wards, or to provide respite. The
staff help the patients to build a routine for themselves and, to cook and go
shopping which will help with their move
back into the community. Staff told me that
it’s important for the recovering patients to
build their confidence and their motivation,
and that Anne’s sessions are a part of that
support system.

Anne’s activities help to bring people out

of their rooms, to help them socialise and
begin to make links to the community. It
is easy for people to stay in their rooms
by themselves and these activities quite
simply provide the impetus to cross over the
threshold. In addition, what is made in these
sessions is used to brighten up the house © Anne Elliot

and make it more homely.

Talking, Listening
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 St John’s

Visual Arts Workshops on Pentland Court (cont.)

It takes time to get to know people and Anne hopes that she will soon be able to
introduce them to other community groups such as the reading group in Bathgate,
or the cooking group in Livingston. She is also talking about inviting in a yoga
instructor and to do movement to music.

Cera Impala
Events

After three fantastic months at the Western General Cera said, ‘I enjoyed a time
of self discovery whilst bringing my music to the most wonderful audiences.’ She
is now pitching up at St. John’s. Cera is an internationally renowned musician
and will be visiting the wards with her banjo, guitar and honey-tinged voice to
entertain. Her repertoire of well-known jazz and folk songs plus her own expertly
crafted pieces will transport you to another time and place.

ALL NEW! The Variety Hour

Scotland has a fantastic history of variety artists that isn’t changing any time soon
as it remains one of the UK’s most well loved forms of entertainments in clubs, pubs
and theatre. Every quarter we will be celebrating one of the best artists on the
variety scene right now. This time round it is Artlink’s guest writer Elaine Gallagher
who not only loves the written word but also is a brilliant performance poet with
a love for the short story. She will be bringing an enlivening hour of poetry and
stories to the wards for these one-off specials. Look out for her in the day room or if
you prefer, enjoy a short story and a chat from your bed side.

Talking, Listening
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 St John’s

Art Workshop
Workshops

© Anne Elliot (2)

Anne Elliot, with the support of Occupational
Therapist Fiona Gallacher, completed a series
of 8 taster art workshops on Ward 17. In the
workshops patients explored block printing,
watercolour painting, drawing and clay
modelling. Following on from these really
popular workshops Anne Elliot will return in
August to Ward 17 to do a series of workshops
developing artwork for the common areas of
the ward.

Talking, Listening
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 St John’s

James McLardy and Steve Hollingsworth

Workshops

Following on from the successful workshops at the Royal Infirmary where artists
Hannah Imlach and James McLardy worked with activities co ordinator Carey
Moss, we are introducing workshops where two artists work together in other
hospitals.

During the next three months, artists James McLardy and Steve Hollingsworth
will deliver a 5 week programme of workshops at St John’s. We are delighted to
be working with Ward 3 and the Stroke Ward and look forward to building
relationships with both the staff and the patients on these wards. We will report
back on these workshops in the next brochure.

Dates and times to be agreed with the ward.

Community Development with Anne Elliot

The Pentland Court project continues into
the summer months and Anne Elliot will
continue to use art workshops as a means
to develop links between the mental health
services at St. John’s and the Leylines
project run by Artlink in West Lothian. The
project will work towards small public
events in West Lothian during the summer.

Anne Elliot (R) on the PROCESSIONS march,

Days and times for this will vary and will be June 2018
agreed in advance with Pentland Court.

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EVENTS CALENDAR - ST JOHN’S

EVENT DATE/S TIME VENUE

11am - 12pm Ward 3

Tuesday 17th & 31st July
1.45pm - 2.45pm Ward 17

11am - 12pm Ward 3

Cera Impala* Tuesday 14th August
1.45pm - 2.45pm Ward 17

11am - 12pm Ward 3

Tuesday 11th & 25th September
1.45pm - 2.45pm Ward 17

Art Workshop with Mondays, Time to be agreed

8 sessions Starts 6th August Ward 17
Anne Elliot* with the ward

11am - 12pm Ward 3

The Variety Hour* Tuesday 4th September
1.45pm - 2.45pm Ward 17

James McLardy & Time to be agreed Ward 3 &

July through to September
Steve Hollingsworth + with the ward Stroke Ward

Art Workshop with Times/dates to be Pentland

July through to September agreed with the Court
Anne Elliot <>
ward

* Open to patients and staff on the ward/s

+ Open to patients and staff on Ward 3 and the Stroke Ward
<> Open to patients and staff at Pentland Court
© Albie Clark
 Western General
Ward Activities
 Western General

Introduction
Artlink’s programme in the Western General involves activities that entertain
long-term patients on the elderly care wards. They tell me that they plan to extend
this work to other wards in the hospital over the coming months.

The programmes brings artists and singers, musicians and actors, storytellers and
magicians to perform on wards and public spaces in the hospital. The activity
brings people out of their rooms and into the day spaces to listen and chat. Some
of the entertainers also go bed-to-bed for the people who aren’t able to join the
audience.

When I went to visit, the ward was quiet and I spoke to activities co-ordinator
Rachel Muir and some of the staff on Ward 71 about how Artlink’s entertainments
help the patients there. They told me that the patients and their visitors look forward
to the shows, and those who have experienced Artlink's work will encourage others
who may have missed it to come along the next time Artlink is on the ward.

The elderly patients like familiar songs from their youth, or readings of Burns and
poems and stories that they know, and the noise and chatter encourages them all
to open up and sing along.

What is important is that these activities bring everyone on the ward together, and
afterwards, patients who have come out of their rooms for the show will stay and
chat and have their lunch in the day room. Relatives and friends will often film or
photograph their relatives singing and enjoying the show as it reassures them that
their friend or family member is doing well.

Talking, Listening
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 Western General

Max Scratchmann
Events

Max is a fantastic storyteller and multimedia artist who uses different tools to
tell a story. He has been collaborating over the last three months with the Royal
Infirmary’s fantastic activity coordinator to create personalized storytelling and
reminiscence sessions on the wards. Now, with the help of activity coordinator
Rachel and a pocket full of postcards he will be bringing his passion for stories to
The Western General. The summer is finally here and Max will be encouraging
memories of holidays past, present and future in a fun and informal environment as
well as sharing his own travel adventures. Sit back and relax as he transports you
to the four corners of the globe through the power of storytelling.

© Albie Clark

Singin’ & Reminiscin’ with Miss Annabel Sings

With a passion for reminiscence and the help of a huge back catalogue of your
favourite songs from every genre, join Edinburgh’s premier Cabaret singer and host
Miss Annabel Sings. She will be singing songs that bring in the sunshine and jet us
off to memories of holidays or just simply brighten up our days. It’s Summer season
and Annabel invites you to join her for an hour to sing together, share stories,
laugh, dance or simply sit back on your sun lounger and enjoy some entertainment.

Talking, Listening
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 Western General

ALL NEW! The Variety Hour

Events

Scotland has a fantastic history of variety artists and that isn’t changing any time
soon as it remains one of the UK’s most well loved forms of entertainments in clubs,
pubs and theatre. Every quarter we will be celebrating one of the best artists on the
variety scene right now. This time round it is Artlink’s guest writer Elaine Gallagher
who not only loves the written word but also is a brilliant performance poet with
a love for the short story. She will be bringing an enlivening hour of poetry and
stories to the wards for these one-off specials. Look out for her in the day room or if
you prefer, enjoy a short story and a chat from the comfort of your bed.

Allan and Ron: Stories and Songs

Life is full of stories and is even better when it’s filled with songs. Join our wonderful
volunteers Allan and Ron for an hour of storytelling and song, with some old and
some new songs to tap your toes to. Allan and Ron have been volunteering at
the Western General for about 2 years and have fast become a favourite on the
wards. If you are interested in volunteering your musical talents to the hospitals
please get in touch with Miss Annabel Sings.

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EVENTS CALENDAR - WESTERN GENERAL

EVENT DATE/S TIME VENUE

11am - 12pm Ward 72

Wednesday 4th July
2pm - 3pm Ward 73

11am - 12pm Ward 70

Wednesday 18th July
1.30pm - 2.30pm Ward 71

11am - 12pm Ward 72

Max Scratchmann* Wednesday 1st August
2pm - 3pm Ward 73

11am - 12pm Ward 72

Wednesday 12th September
2pm - 3pm Ward 73

11am - 12pm Ward 70

Wednesday 26th September
1.30pm - 2.30pm Ward 71

Monday 16th July 11am - 12pm Ward 71

Singin’ & Reminiscin’

with Miss Annabel Saturday 4th August 11am - 12pm Ward 71
Sings*

Saturday 29th August 11am - 12pm Ward 71

11am - 12pm Ward 70

The Variety Hour+ Tuesday 7th August

1.30pm - 2.30pm Ward 71

Allan and Ron:

Wednesday 19th September 1.30pm - 2.30pm Ward 70
Stories and Songs*

* Open to patients and staff on all wards in the RVB building

+ Open to patients and staff on the ward/s
 Royal Infirmary
Workshop

© Anne Elliot
 Royal Infirmary

Introduction
I visited the stroke ward at the Royal Infirmary to see Miss Annabel Sings and to
talk to Carey Moss, the activity co-ordinator there. Carey runs an activities hub
in the ward, and with artists James McLardy and Hannah Imlach she has been
organising communal activities and workshops there. These activities have been
very successful in creating a space where people can meet communally, where
they can relax and talk with each other about their experience of having a stroke.
The hub and the wall outside the ward are decorated with photos of the sculptures
they made, and of the hands of the people working the clay in the workshops,
which is a lovely reminder to people of their time together.

When I visited the hub Miss Annabel Sings

was just finishing her set, Singin’ and
Reminiscin’. The room was filled with people
singing along to old-time songs which are
favourites of some of the older patients, and
which younger folk always know from their
childhoods. Even if people say they can’t
sing, they’ll join in quickly or at least hum
along. Carey told me that people arrive tired
and leave much more aware, and brighter for
having been to the singalong.

I asked Carey and some of the other ward

staff about how Artlink helps them on the
Carey Moss
ward. They told me that people are calmer,
both patients and staff, and that the community that is formed around the hub
encourages people to talk, to support one another in their recovery. People are
able for a short period of time to forget that they are in hospital, and the activities

Talking, Listening
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 Royal Infirmary

Introduction (cont.)

lift their spirits. People banter with one

another and make friends that they
wouldn’t otherwise have made. Biker
friends of one patient started bantering
with other people on the ward and now
they are regular visitors. Another recovered
patient still comes back to help encourage
new patients.

Carey works hard and the work with Artlink

further ensures that there is something for
everyone. Carey told me of one patient
who is an angler who brought in his
fly-tying equipment, and began to teach
other people how to make fishing flies. She
also brings in memory boxes from the museum, with items for people to talk about
and touch and reminisce, and when I visited, she and Miss Annabel were talking
about how to include the memory boxes in her performances. I wonder what songs
they will use?
© Albie Clark (3)

Talking, Listening
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 Royal Infirmary

ALL NEW! The Variety Hour

Events

Every quarter we will be celebrating one of the best artists on the variety scene
right now. This time round it is Artlink’s guest writer Elaine Gallagher who not only
loves the written word but also is a brilliant performance poet with a love for the
short story. She will be bringing an enlivening hour of poetry and stories to the
wards for these one-off specials. Look out for her in the day room or if you prefer,
enjoy a short story and a chat from the comfort of your bed.

Sarah Phizacklea

Next stop the Infirmary! Sarah is Artlink’s multi-instrumentalist, golden-voiced super

hero and is always a hit on the wards. She has just finished three months at St.
John's where she treated staff and patients to an intimate and personalized hour
of songs and music from every era. What songs speak to you? We all have one
or two that resonate. Sarah will be working in the mornings with you and activity
coordinator Carey to discover those songs that have special meaning and in the
afternoon she will be visiting the wards. Enjoy a relaxed hour of live music and chat
as she takes you on a journey through the eras and finds your song.

Singin’ & Reminiscin’ with Miss Annabel Sings

With a passion for reminiscence and the help of a huge back catalogue of your
favourite songs from every genre join Edinburgh’s premier Cabaret singer and host
Miss Annabel Sings. She will be singing songs that bring in the sunshine and jet us
off to memories of holidays or just simply brighten up our days. It’s Summer season
and Annabel invites you to join her for an hour to sing together, share stories,
laugh, dance or simply sit back on your sun lounger and enjoy some entertainment.

Talking, Listening
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 Royal Infirmary

The Vintage Chorus

Events

© Phil Wilkinson
Artlink are excited to invite the Vintage Chorus to sing for the hospital community.
The Vintage Chorus is an a capella community choir who meet every Tuesday
morning at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh. The group is made up of an eclectic
mix of older people with a passion for song and a zest for life and led by the
brilliant musician Wendy Weatherby. Wendy hopes the Vintage Chorus will be a
chance for people to have a good time singing music of all styles in an informal
and cheery atmosphere. Choirs and singing as a group have long been hailed
as a fantastic way to feel healthy and keep the mind active - so come along and
see what The Vintage Chorus get up to. Maybe you will feel like joining them for
a chorus too or feel inspired to join a choir. To find out more information about
events, the Vintage Choir or you would like to volunteer your musical skills for a
public space performance in the hospitals please contact Miss Annabel Sings.

Talking, Listening
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EVENTS CALENDAR - ROYAL INFIRMARY

EVENT DATE/S TIME VENUE

10.45am - 11.45am
Activity Room at
Monday 2nd July &
1.45pm - 2.45pm 201 ERI
Singin’ & Reminiscin’ 10.45am - 11.45am
Activity Room at
with Miss Annabel Monday 6th August &
1.45pm - 2.45pm 201 ERI
Sings*

Monday 24th September

11am - 12pm & Activity Room at
1.45pm - 2.45pm 201 ERI

11am - 12pm Ward 202

The Variety Hour+ Tuesday 3rd July
1.30pm - 2.30pm Ward 104

The Vintage Chorus° Tuesday 3rd July 12.30pm - 1.30pm Main Foyer ERI

Activity Room at
10.45am - 11.45am
Wednesday 11th July 201 ERI

1.45pm – 2.45pm Ward 203

10.45am - 11.45am
Activity Room at
Wednesday 22nd August 201 ERI

1.45pm - 2.45pm Ward 203

Activity Room at
11am - 12pm
Sarah Phizacklea+ Wednesday 29th August 201 ERI

1.45pm - 2.45pm Ward 202

Activity Room at
11am - 12pm
201 ERI
Wednesday 5th September
1.45pm - 2.45pm Ward 202

10.45am - 11.45am Activity Room at

Wednesday 19th September 201 ERI

1.45pm - 2.45pm Ward 203

* Open to wards 101,104, 201, 202, 203

+ Open to patients and staff on the ward/s
° Open to everyone
 © Albie Clark
Royal Edinburgh
Processions Workshop
 Royal Edinburgh

Making Links to the Community

Patients from Royal Edinburgh and members of the Curious Routes community
project have been working together on a project at Basic Mountain, an arts studio
in the middle of the city.

Basic Mountain is a cheerful space, livened

up with the work from previous Curious Routes
projects. Artist Annabel Bartle showed me a
decorated DJ booth and a ping-pong table
covered in block prints. She told me about how
she and Anne had been looking for a project that
would interest all the participants and encourage
their involvement in the community. For the last
few weeks participants have been working
on banners for celebrations of the hundredth
anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in Britain. They
will join a huge, commemorative march through
© Anne Elliot

Edinburgh City in June, carrying the banners and

rosettes they are making.

The walls of the studio are covered in pictures of banners and slogans, from past
women’s rights marches and feminist campaigns. The table is covered with fabric
and craft materials, and work in progress in the form of rosettes and banners. The
group work together to research, design and make the pieces that they will bring to
the march. One participant who couldn’t be there that day had written poetry and
slogans, which she had emailed for everyone else to decide how to use. They had
a lively discussion around one of the banners, about how to include her words and
make sure that everyone had a say and a part in making them. Other people had
been looking at calligraphy and fonts for the banners, or were cutting out letters

Talking, Listening
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25
 Royal Edinburgh

Making Links to the Community (cont.)

and patterns to iron or sew on to the banners, or were making the rosettes or
sewing patchwork collages of the slogans. I spoke to a participant who told
me about how the group is important to her, that the regular meetings are an
anchor for her week. She can talk to this group of friends about health issues and
knows that they will be supportive.
Another participant told me that her
participation in the project has given
her an interest in women’s rights and
equality.

This project provides support for

people who are leaving hospital care

© Albie Clark
and makes practical links to activities
and programmes in the community.

ANNE IMAGES

Talking, Listening
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 Royal Edinburgh

Special Event
© Anne Elliot

PROCESSIONS, a commemoration of 100 years of women’s suffrage, Edinburgh

10th June 2018.

Anne Elliot and Annabel Bartle have been working with a group of women at
Basic Mountain making banners and rosettes for the PROCESSIONS event that
took place in key cities throughout the UK on June 10th.  The group took part in the
Edinburgh march.  If you saw them I hope you gave them a wave and a smile.

Talking, Listening
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 Royal Edinburgh
Special Event

© Albie Clark
Doors Open Day at the Glasshouses

As this is likely to be our last year in the Royal Edinburgh Hospital Glasshouses,
we’re hoping to take part in the Edinburgh Doors Open Day event, which takes
place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th September 11 – 4. This would give the
general public the chance to see the amazing space that has been Artlink’s REH
home for the last 7 years. 

As part of the ‘Doors Open Day’ event the Glasshouses will host an exhibition of
photographs taken by the hospital community as part of the ‘Significant Spaces’
photography project. The REH is undergoing a substantial re-building programme
during which many parts of the old hospital will disappear; ‘Significant Spaces’
aims to capture these spaces before they are lost forever.

The project is headed by photographer Natalie Feather and funded by the

Edinburgh & Lothians Health Foundation. As part of the project, Natalie has
been working with the hospital community enabling them to take photographs
and print them in her Travelling Darkroom, which was set up in various locations
throughout the hospital. Natalie will be in attendance throughout the Doors Open
Day weekend and visitors will get the chance to print their own photographs in the
Travelling Darkroom.

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 Royal Edinburgh

Vitrine Workshops
Workshops on the Wards

An artist will be commissioned to work with each ward on how best to use the
display cases in the vitrines on the ward. The vitrines are simply the room dividers
that most of the wards have, which separate their sitting and dining areas. Trevor
will be coming round each of the wards to talk to you about the project and then
he will begin the process of commissioning an artist to undertake the work. Again
Trevor will keep all interested wards informed as to when this will happen and will
start to programme in a series of workshops on each ward.

Tom Krasny Summer Camp

Multimedia artist Tom Krasny will be working with Anne Elliot and Miss Annabel
Sings towards the Summer Camp events. She will be coming round the wards
working with patients to make fantastical props and outfits for the event. Trevor will
come round the wards to book times for this to happen.

© Anne Elliot

One-to-One Art Session with Anne Elliot

Anne is offering a small number of people the opportunity to make art at the
Glasshouses on a one to one basis. If you know someone who would benefit from
these one to one sessions please contact Anne Elliot to discuss and book a slot.

Talking, Listening
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 Royal Edinburgh

D.I.Y. Culture with Anne and Neil

Workshops and Events

The Glasshouses are open to patients and staff who have an interest in skills-based
activity working with wood, paint and plants whilst maintaining the much loved
Glasshouses.

Summer Camp 

You may have seen our redcoats Miss Annabel

Sings and Annie on your ward in recent months.
Wearing their sun hats and with a sunny disposition
they have been singing songs and evoking
memories of family holidays in the UK, especially
holidays at places such as Butlins. Through singing
and chatting they have been working with you to

© Anne Elliot (2)

gather ideas for an exciting summer programme
of events, happenings and workshops at the
Glasshouses.

Now it is the height of Summer, Artlink invite you

to join us for an eclectic mix of events. You can
choose from our menu of garden parties, art and
making workshops, film screenings, performance
happenings and so much more! What will take
your fancy on the Summer Camp menu? Look out
for posters and our very special pamphlet of events
or contact Anne at the Glasshouses to find out more
or book a place. Don’t miss out, come and be part
Summer Camp workshop images
of the party.

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 Royal Edinburgh

Making Art at the Summer Camp with Annie

Wednesdays at Summer Camp

Kite making, design swimwear competition, blinging up summer accessories are

amongst some of the suggestions for art and craft activities at Summer Camp join in
these one off art activities for some summer fun.

Singin’ & Reminiscin’ with Miss Annabel Sings

With a passion for reminiscence and the help of a huge back catalogue of your
favourite songs from every genre, Edinburgh’s premier Cabaret singer and host will
be singing songs that make remind us of summer or remind us of holidays we have
had. Annabel would love you to join her for a new regular hour and invites you to
sing, laugh, dance and enjoy the healing power of music and song. All abilities
are welcome and no previous experience is necessary. If you simply want to enjoy
some entertainment then please come along as there is nothing better than singing
with friends, old and new!

Dates for Your Diary

Get in touch with your ideas and come
and join us for some summer fun at the Glasshouses.

25th July Glasshouses Garden Party.

15th August Trip out; destination to be decided. Get in touch with suggestions.
22nd August Treasure Hunt. Throughout the hospital.
31st August REH Summer Fête; look out for Summer Camp at the Fête.
26th September Closing event at the Glasshouses.

Talking, Listening
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 Royal Edinburgh
Workshops and Events

© Anne Elliot
Slow Gardening at the Glasshouses with Chris Jones 

Chris will lead the group this growing season and share his gardening knowledge
and skill. An already active community of garden enthusiasts welcomes new
volunteers to the Glasshouses to spend quality time in a special environment.
Learn how to nurture plants from seeds, pot on and discover the full spectrum of
plant life. The plant sale on May 24th raised £235 towards art materials for the
Glasshouses. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped and for all your support;
you can continue to purchase plants throughout the summer at the Glasshouses. 

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 Royal Edinburgh

What Happens When You Leave Hospital?

What happens to the interests you have reconnected with, or new interests you
have developed during your stay in hospital when you leave the hospital? Anne
Elliot is looking into crossovers between her projects in the hospital with other
Artlink mental health projects, namely the Leylines project in West Lothian and
Curious Routes in Edinburgh. Anne will be developing events in the community
based on shared interests between these three Artlink projects. Information on these
events will be distributed as and when they emerge. Please get in touch with Anne
if you have any suggestions for events or have ideas about where events could
happen.

Kitchen Sink Film Season at DOK Artspace

As part of our Curious Routes/Leylines projects

in Edinburgh and West Lothian, Off The Grid
will be presenting a series of films at DOK
Artspace in Leith, starting with Look Back in
Anger on the 2nd of July between 6pm and
9pm.

Contact Annabel Bartle for more info on

annabel@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk

DOK Artspace,
Ocean Drive, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJ
dokartspace.org

Talking, Listening
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EVENTS CALENDAR - ROYAL EDINBURGH

EVENT DATE/S TIME VENUE

Vitrine Workshops <> July to September TBA Various

wards

Tuesdays Various
Tom Krasny Summer
Starting In July and running TBA wards
Camp°
for 5 weeks

Tuesdays
1.30pm - 2.30pm
3rd, 10th and 17th July
3pm - 4pm
One-to-One Art Session 18th and 25th September
with Anne Elliot* Glasshouses
Thursdays
5th, 12th and 19th July 10.30 -11.30am
20th and 27th September

D.I.Y. culture with Anne Wednesdays 11am - 12pm Glasshouses

and Neil*

Making Art at the Wednesdays 1pm - 2.45pm  Glasshouses

Summer Camp° (No Session on September 5th)

Wednesdays
Singin’ & Reminiscin’ with
Miss Annabel Sings° (No session on August 15th and 3pm - 4pm Glasshouses
29th,  September 5th and 12th)

Slow Gardening with

Thursdays 1pm - 3pm Glasshouses
Chris Jones+

For more information and to book a place, contact

Summer Camp Events+
25th July Garden Party Miss Annabel Sings at the Glasshouses on 46127 or
email missannabelsings@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
15th August Trip Out
22nd August Treasure Hunt
31st August REH Summer Fete
26th September Glasshouses Closing Event

* Open to inpatients only

+ Open to anyone
° Open to patients, families and staff at the REH
<> Open to all patients in the Royal Edinburgh Building
 Prospect Bank

Workshops for Nursing Staff

I spoke to artist Jim Colquhoun, who recently worked on two workshops for nursing
staff at Prospect Bank which explored how sound affects people’s moods.

These workshops are the first in a programme of work that will extend across
Prospect Bank to The Western General and patients moving from Liberton Hospital
to the REH. This project will grow over time, looking at ways to support patients
with dementia on elderly care wards, and those who are ready to move to the
community.

Jim was asked to look at the ways that the everyday sounds within a Specialist
Dementia Ward affects the mood of people, both patients and staff.

It had been identified by nursing staff, as part of their work within the Specialist
Dementia Unit Improvement Programme run by Health Improvement Scotland, that
the bustle and harsh noises, especially around mealtimes, caused people stress and
upset. Jim’s workshops intended to work with staff to take the time to identify some
of the disturbing sounds and think about what calming sounds they could introduce
to soothe the ward environment.

Jim asked staff to sit quietly and listen to the sounds on the wards which included
the sounds that staff made as they went about their work. The workshop participants
listened with eyes closed and heard, perhaps for the first time, the noise produced
by nursing staff, visitors, patients and the building itself. To counter this he then
played soothing sounds from woodland and water environments, as well as music
that incorporates the sounds of birdsong and nature.

It’s early days for this project and Artlink are working on a programme of staff
workshops and events for patients that will further lift spirits and improve life on the
wards.

Talking, Listening
and Learning 33
 Prospect Bank

Prospect Bank at Findlay House

Events

Prospect Bank at Findlay House is a dementia unit in the heart of Leith and Artlink
are pleased to be involved with them to look at ways of working with patients with
dementia as well as supporting the staff who work on the wards. Working
collaboratively with staff in short workshops we will be exploring different ideas;
we are currently looking at how different sounds produced on the wards can have
a positive or negative impact on patients. The workshop's aim is to positively help
change the sound landscape of the ward. Alongside this we will be working with
patients, families and staff to create an exciting personalised menu of live music
events. Dementia wards by their nature can isolate you from the surrounding
community and we are keen to bring different communities onto the ward. Are you
part of a local community of artists, musicians or singing groups who would be
willing to come into Prospect Bank to spend an hour or two with patients on the
ward? If you are, we would really love to hear from you! We are not limiting it to
artists, musicians or singers so if you think you have something to offer please get in
touch with Miss Annabel Sings for more information. See right for contact details.

Singin’ & Reminiscin’ with Miss Annabel Sings

With a passion for reminiscence and the help of a huge back catalogue of your
favourite songs from every genre, Edinburgh’s premier Cabaret singer and host will
be using songs and personal stories to help you remember good times and have
a bit of fun. Annabel invites you to join her for an hour to sing, laugh, dance or
simply sit back and listen.

July 23rd, August 20th, September 17th

Prospect Bank: 3pm – 4pm

Open to patients, families and staff at Prospect Bank

Talking, Listening
34 and Learning
 Developing Future Partnerships

Artlink is an arts and disability organisation established in 1984. Artlink

believes participation in the arts has an important role to play in realising
personal and social change.

We want your involvement in this programme and your feedback on

exhibitions, events and workshops. We depend on you to make this
programme work and your participation will help us to shape future
direction. So call or email us if you need more information, or you want
to talk about what’s on or would like an activity placed on your ward.

Connect with Us
@ArtlinkEdin artlinkedin

ArtlinkEdinburgh www.artlinkedinburgh.co.uk

Contacts
Artlink Office: 0131 229 3555 info@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
Artlink Glasshouses: 0131 537 6127 glasshouses@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
Information on workshops: trevor@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
anne@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk

Information on events: missannabelsings@artlinkedinburgh.co.uk

 Image: Alice Myers
Artlink Edinburgh & The Lothians
13a Spittal Street
Edinburgh EH3 9DY
artlinkedinburgh.co.uk

Artlink is a company registered in Scotland No. 87845

with charitable status, Scottish Charity No. SCO006845