A selection of artworks by city hospital patients with life changing spinal injuries has been awarded a three month showcase at the Millennium Galleries this summer.

For the last twelve months, the Arts in Health team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals have been running weekly arts and crafts sessions for patients at the Spinal Cord Injuries Centre at the Northern General Hospital.

Thanks to funding awarded by Arts Council England, and matched by Sheffield Hospitals Charity, this flagship Arts in Health project has seen three Sheffield artists bring a variety of creative workshops to patients.

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How has the project benefited patients with spinal injuries?

Artists Coralie Turpin, Jason Thomson and Seiko Kinoshita taught patients their specialist skills in mosaics, copper embossing and weaving and gave them the opportunity to develop new interests, socialise and make friends. 

Coralie Turpin, one of the artists involved in the project, said: “Over the last year we have heard lots of stories from patients struggling to come to terms with the major changes in their lives and plans for their futures. 

“It has been an honour to have played a part in these patients’ recovery and hope this artwork will provide them with a sense of achievements for many years to come”.

Following the exhibition, artworks produced by the patients will be displayed permanently in the Spinal Cord Injuries Centre alongside new work made by the artists inspired by their residency.

Sarah Browton, Matron of the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre says...

Sarah Browton, Matron of the Princess Royal Spinal Cord Injuries Centre said: “We were honoured to have been chosen to be part of this project. The artists’ workshops have been a great addition to the care we give and have helped patients fill their time with a meaningful, creative, therapeutic activity, which enhances their rehabilitation journey.

“Patients and relatives have returned to the wards talking about how much they enjoyed meeting the Artists, having a go at something new and proudly showing staff the artwork they have created.”

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The exhibition will be at Museums Sheffield’s Millennium Galleries in Sheffield City Centre from Friday 8 June to Sunday 9 September 2018. Donations to the Arts in Health team will enable us to fund more projects like this, and many more, across the hospitals.