Conversations in Colour
Pilot Arts and Health Project at Bantry General Hospital
A new Arts for Health project called ‘Conversations in Colour’ is taking place at Bantry General Hospital to increase the wellbeing of patients living with dementia and enhance the culture of the wards. This new project will take place during April and May 2024. It will include weekly, one-to-one art, poetry and a music session delivered by professional artists with expertise in working with older adults in healthcare settings from the Arts for Health team. Family members are very welcome to join in during visiting times.
The project managed through Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, as part of Arts for Health Partnership programme and will take place from April – May 2024 concluding with a concise evaluative report for the purpose of seeking further funding should the pilot be deemed successful.
Aim is to deliver a series of responsive arts encounters that stimulate meaningful conversation with a view to improving the culture of the ward specifically for patients living with dementia and other cognitive differences. The project also hopes to engender positive engagement from the staff cohort, and provide the artists with a support structure to enhance the programme delivery.
Visual artist Sarah Ruttle will deliver a six part pilot with musician Kate Liddell as guest for one session. Sarah Ruttle has been selected for her high level of experience and expertise. Sarah is also currently scheduled to work in St.Joseph’s Unit so will make the pilot project more fiscally viable.
Objectives:
● Deliver a series of 6 one to one arts-based sessions for patients
● begin with an introduction session with core healthcare professionals working on the ward
● Conducting an evaluation to 1. determine the benefit to patients and hospital culture and 2. viability of continuing delivery through the Arts for Health Partnership Programme:
○ Following each session, Sarah, Annette and Teresa will speak to determine their response, documenting a description from the patient perspective as well as hospital staff and family if available. A Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) Scale(attached) and repeated the following day, and document any changes observed.
○ Following each session Sarah will complete a short online report recording how many patients, staff, family took part, for how long, observing their engagement and output levels and recommending for the next session.
○ Sarah will take photographs, audio recording, notes of artwork as created, where appropriate
○ Three Focus group discussions with artist, staff, arts and health care managers to examine the viability for continuing the delivery through the Arts for Health Partnership Programme.
○ Learning from other programmes in Acute Units to be explored eg. Waterford, Cork, Galway, Tallaght.
Through a series of 6 one to one arts-based sessions for patients, beginning with an introduction session with core healthcare professionals working on the ward, to engender positive engagement from the staff cohort, and provide the artists with a support structure to enhance the programme delivery.
Sessions each Monday from 8 April to 20 May (exc. Bank Holiday)
1:00pm – 1:15pm Artist arrives on Ward – meeting with Artist Liaison – go through check in sheet
1:15pm – 2:45pm one to one bedside activities with 3 to 4 willing participants
2:30pm – 3:00pm Reports – AfH online session report, Patient care notes, evaluation, Journal
Key Contacts
| Teresa Bohane | BGH (Adv Nurse Practitioner Dementia) | MaryTeresa.Bohane@hse.ie |
| Justine Foster | Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre( Programme Manager) | justine@westcorkartscentre.com |
Artist Sarah Ruttle & Kate Liddell
Tyrone born visual artist Sarah is a graduate of Textiles from DJCAD Dundee, Scotland. Based in West Cork. She has worked on the Arts for Health Partnership Programme with older adults living with dementia for over 15 years.
Sarah creates work using illustration, print, and paper art. Illustration has become an important part of her solo work, developing contemporary portraiture, drawing on her experience of working within participatory arts. Creating characters influenced by her passion for photography, pattern, and texture, she hopes to make intimate and compelling images, which capture humanity, emotion, and courage.
‘I want to make meaningful connections with the people I meet. I work through the growth of creative conversation, where stories are shared between participants while exploring different kinds of making. It often leads to creating collaborative group projects, where participants engage and contribute in the making process, with each voice considered and heard.’
artsforhealthwestcork.com/artists/sarah-ruttle/
The pilot project will be funded through the Arts for Health Partnership