North Shields-based artists selected to create sculpture for new community hospital
Bright, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s official charity, has appointed Nic Quinn and Colin Davies from art production practice Sum.Place to create a mobile sculpture for the new Berwick Community Hospital.
Artwork plays an important role in enhancing hospital environments and with the development of the new state-of-the-art hospital in Berwick, plans are in place for a mobile sculpture to hang inside the main entrance to welcome visitors, patients and staff.
Sum.Place, North Shields-based art production practice, have been selected as the artists to create this piece of artwork after presenting a design concept with strong connections to Berwick’s history as a fishing town.
Drawing inspiration from the open space in the atrium, their proposed sculpture involves suspending an arrangement of approximately 2000 fish, following the form of the River Tweed, from the ceiling. To keep this project in line with the sustainability targets of the new-build and the Net Zero Northumbria action plan, each fish will be made from recycled NHS waste.
The manufacture of the sculpture will take place in Sum.Place’s studio in North Shields before being transported for installation in Berwick.
While the final aim of the sculpture is to bring a welcome distraction to those in the hospital, community wellbeing remains a strong focus throughout the project. Creative workshops will be held to give residents the chance to meet the artists, take part in creative activities and learn more about the project.
Sum.Place have used a creative workshop approach for many of the public art installations in their portfolio and it has been successful in supporting the wellbeing of local communities. The workshops provide a social opportunity for residents to take part in a creative art-making session that relates to the heritage of the town while discussing their own experiences and stories of life in Berwick.
Creative workshops have been arranged in Berwick for the following dates and times:
- Friday 28 March, 11am-1pm, Berwick Library, Walkergate Building TD15 1DB
- Friday 28 March, 2pm-5pm, Berwick Community Trust, The William Elder Building, 56-58 Castlegate, TD15 1JT (ground floor conference room)
- Saturday 29 March, 9am-2pm, Berwick Market, 106 Marygate, TD15 1BN
Workshops are also being arranged to involve students at Berwick Academy and Northumbria staff.
Colin Davies, creative director from Sum.Place said: “We’re thrilled to be involved in this project, especially during such a significant time for the people of Berwick. Art in public spaces has a profound impact on wellbeing, bringing joy to everyday moments and offering comfort in challenging times. We’re excited to work with the local community to deliver an innovative installation that tells a story and positively reflects the town.”
The ethos of Sum.Place’s practice states that public art is a matter of public health, and this aligns with Bright’s Healing arts programme which enhances hospital environments to support wellbeing and create a welcome distraction in clinical spaces.
Katie Dawson, healing arts programme manager, said: “The development of the new hospital is a fantastic opportunity for the arts because we have a blank canvas to work with. The atrium will have a high footfall so it’s an ideal location to have a positive impact and be seen by patients, visitors and staff. Berwick is known for having a strong sense of community, so we want people to be involved with this project and be proud to influence a milestone in the town’s history.”
Robert Graham, head of Bright Charity, said: “The new hospital has been a long time coming so it’s important that the community is provided with an environment that meets different aspects of their needs. When people are spending time in hospital, whether this is for a one-off appointment or a longer stay, we have a responsibility to provide a welcoming space that supports people’s wellbeing.”
This project has been funded and organised by Bright charity’s, award-winning healing arts programme which enhances healthcare environment for patients, visitors, and staff.
Berwick’s new community hospital, which will open later this year, will improve patient care and patient and staff experience. To find out more about he progress of the project and about patient services, please visit our website.
