Paintings in Hospitals is to collaborate with Four Seasons Health Care on a digital art project to bring culture and creativity into the daily lives of thousands of care home residents and care staff.
Launching on National Day of Arts in Care Homes on 24 September, the Beautiful Planet project will provide a range of art activities to over 160 care homes and communities across the UK.
As part of the project, 8,800 residents of Four Seasons Health Care and brighterkind homes will be able to view artworks from the Paintings in Hospitals collection both physically and digitally via screens and tablets.
Residents will then have the chance to explore the imagery, techniques and inspirations found in the artworks first-hand through a suite of new engagement activities.
Using artworks that investigate the themes of Land, Sea and Sky, each activity is designed by Paintings in Hospitals to offer support for participants’ mental and physical health.
This approach supports and complements Four Seasons’ existing Magic Moments programme aimed at providing activities for the mind, body, and soul.
Delivered by 350 Magic Moments coordinators, the Beautiful Planet project will also connect with over 13,000 care staff, and will provide artwork-inspired activities including, collage making, abstract photography, sunlit walks, stargazing, and word association.
“The Beautiful Planet project allows us to share artworks with nearly 10,000 care home residents nationally, using high-resolution digital images and a range of resources that include audio playlists, wellbeing videos, and live webcams,” Paintings in Hospitals relationship & development manager Dominic Harbour.
“Most exciting of all is how the project focuses on individual health and wellbeing through personal creativity, involving anything from keeping a sketchbook or making digital photographs, to enjoying nature or listening to music,” he added.
Four Seasons head of product development Steve Gardner said: “Arts and culture offer a wide variety of opportunities to stimulate a diverse range of interests, has many benefits for health and wellbeing and has always been an important feature in our Magic Moments activities programme.
“It has a wonderful way of evoking special memories and making us reflect in a way that’s personal to everyone. The range of activities associated with the project aren’t restricted to creating art, but do guarantee creativity, thoughtful discussion and good times.”
