1. MK Arts for Health Work in the community

2. aim to make a difference, by improving and enriching our environment and the local community MK Arts for Health

3. MK Arts for Health aims ‘To enhance health and healing through creativity’

4. What do we do? introduce exciting new artwork and cultural experiences to our local community

5. place design and art in health care environments to improve the quality of the environment and assist with way-finding

6. improve health and social well-being by making healthcare environments more welcoming, and even enjoyable places to work, visit or use

7. Highlights of completed projects

8. Artists Training Residencies Mentored Artists residency/training scheme within Milton Keynes Hospital

9. Treatment Centre Commissions specific artworks for the newly constructed £12m Hospital Treatment Centre

10. Healthy Heritage Phase 1 centred around a collection of watercolours of Milton Keynes landmarks, donated to Buckinghamshire County Museum. featured as an exemplar project in the Department of Health/Arts Council England commissioned publication: A Prospectus for Art and Health, 2007

11. Creative Courtyards Scheme part of a series of practically based research schemes largely funded by the Department of Health. selected hospital courtyards were re-designed through collaboration with artists, staff and volunteers

12. Current Projects

13. Creative Courtyards Scheme Explorer Scouts have taken over maintenance of the courtyard spaces and are designing their own garden for the hospital.

14. Healthy Heritage Phase II: Out of Clay based around an exhibition of historic and contemporary pottery from the local area, exhibited in the Cardiology Waiting Area in Milton Keynes Hospital

15. Falls Prevention Arts Programme training care workers about the role of creativity within care. Using a different approach to preventing falls, by focussing on relationships between staff and residents

16. Music in Milton Keynes Hospital a series of concerts within the hospital featuring a range of music

17. Milton Keynes Hospital Teaching Hospital for the Arts teaching partnership with the School of Health at Northampton University

18. Poetry for Waiting Areas in GP surgeries in Milton Keynes poetry produced in creative writing sessions with patients is displayed in 85% of Milton Keynes GP surgeries. I joined a group called Creative Writing So scared I found it frightening One week, two weeks, three weeks More Lovely people I quite Adore Now this group called Creative Writing It’s not so bad, Not so Frightening In fact I find it rather Exciting This wonderful Creative Writing Gary

19. Arts on Prescription Arts on Prescription programme to be rolled out inter-regionally with partner organisations in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire

20. Capital projects artwork is included in programme of expansion and refurbishment at Milton Keynes Hospital.

21. Working with volunteers Intern programme Courtyard gardeners Project volunteers Art Trail Tour Guides Arts Volunteer Committee Opportunities for people who have been treated under our ‘Arts on Prescription’ project

22. For further information please visit our website www.mkartsforhealth.org.uk Helen Taylor, Director 01908 243284 helen.taylor@mkhospital.nhs.uk