September 7th, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to put hospital staff under extreme pressure. During the first wave of infections the Guild agreed co-funding for an Art Therapy project to help Barts staff cope with stress.

The project – Coping though Connection and Creativity: Art and Wellbeing Online Forum – was accessed through the Barts intranet via a blog and participants could join in at work or at home at times that suited them.

Weekly themes were offered including: Create, Destroy, Transform, Caught my Eye. Participants could make art in any way that they wished including quick artworks made from everyday objects. They could share their art with each other through the blog.

Megan Tjasink, Lead Art Therapist, Cancer Psychological Services, thanked the Guild for our help towards this very successful project and shared the comments of some of the participants:

“First off, I would like to thank all the people behind the art therapy as I personally found it very useful going through these tough times. I have been on the front line since March and until now post peak of the pandemic. I felt trapped wearing PPEs, but relieved with doing creative works.” – ITU nurse, May 2020

“I’ve really, really enjoyed it and found it an incredibly helpful tool to decompress during the pandemic and more broadly with medicine in general.” – ITU doctor, August 2020

“I have found the initiative very helpful during a very stressful and uncertain time. The weekly themes and group have given a chance to focus and have been hugely beneficial.” – Cancer nurse, August 2020

An exhibition of the art created during the project will be held in the Great Hall from 20
November. Be sure to visit if you are at the hospital.

 

‘Create, Destroy, Transform’ – Psychologist, Barts Heart Centre

 

‘Plants and Flowers’ – Neuro-oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist

 

‘Noticing Nature (up close)’ – Cancer Nurse Specialist, using magnifier on her phone