Transforming Hospital Stays with Artsparks Workshops
Artsparks was established in 2008 with a simple but powerful aim: to bring creativity, comfort and joy to children during their time in hospital.
Through engaging art workshops, young patients and their families or carers are given the opportunity to express themselves, build confidence and enjoy a positive distraction from the challenges of treatment and hospital stays. These creative sessions play an important role in improving wellbeing, reducing anxiety and creating moments of normality in an unfamiliar environment.
The impact can be remarkable. Children who arrive feeling shy, anxious or uncertain often leave with newfound confidence, proud of what they have created and smiling with a real sense of achievement. In turn, these uplifting experiences help create a brighter, more positive atmosphere across the ward, benefiting families, patients and clinical teams alike. By supporting emotional wellbeing, Artsparks helps make the hospital experience more positive for everyone involved.
Artsparks workshops on the Royal United Hospital Children’s Ward are delivered by professional artists who bring creativity, imagination and encouragement to young patients each week.
Using a wide range of inspiring materials and creative activities, our artists help children explore their ideas, express themselves and discover the joy of making art. To ensure every child has the opportunity to take part, sessions are delivered in the playroom, on the ward bays and in side rooms, making them accessible to children of all ages, abilities and additional needs.
At the heart of Artsparks is the belief that every child deserves the freedom to be creative. Our workshops provide a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment where children can build confidence, experience a sense of achievement and enjoy moments of normal childhood during their time in hospital. Through creativity, we help transform clinical spaces into places of connection, self-expression and positive wellbeing.
‘The workshops are a highlight and makes coming in to hospital a much more positive experience’ Parent
“Art therapy is an incredibly vital part of healing for children and can be so beneficial not only to provide them with a stimulus during their stay but as a way often of coping with the challenging psychological aspects of living with a chronic or overcoming an acute illness. Art provides a creative outlet, which can aide recovery, stimulate discussion, and provide entertainment as well as general enrichment to children’s lives during a difficult time. Art can provide children with a time to feel ‘normal’ and at ease often when navigating illness which for some of our children can be incredible scary and daunting, it makes hospital feel safer and provides something tactile and fun to pass the time. For parents, their child’s time spent with our artist allows for some vital respite and some time to switch off a bit from the trauma of childhood illness – art can also be something they do together as another form of family healing.” Matron and Trustwide Paediatric Lead
Having specialist creative activities each week helps the Children’s Ward staff, including the Play Specialists who work closely with both artists:
“We rely and look forward to the Wednesday artist in residence sessions, they make the Play Room and ward a better place, due to giving children and young people something to look forward to” Hospital Play Specialist
“I’m so impressed by the quality and dedication of the Artsparks service at the RUH. The service further supported my daughter’s recovery to health.” Parent
“Amazing! Makes a bad visit more enjoyable. My 4 year old loved every moment with friendly staff.” Parent
“Helped massively to distract from pre-op nerves. Had loads of fun! Wants another op to be able to do it all again. Thank you!” Parent
Participate Virtual Workshops
Between 2021 – 2023, we created nine short workshop videos with corresponding illustrated instructions as well as single patient art bags to be used independently by young patients on the Children’s Ward. We have also shared these resources with specialist ward coordinators, OTs, medical students and volunteers.
See examples below of creating paper sculptures with artist, Edwina Bridgeman and Fimo models with artist, Charlotte Stowell. You can view all nine videos or choose the one you would like to watch via YouTube.
pARTicipate workshop – Paper sculptures by Edwina Bridgeman
pARTicipate workshop – FIMO models by Charlotte Stowell
pARTicipate workshops – Art at the Heart – YouTube
During the pandemic, the loss of in-person visits and creative activities was deeply felt by children and families on hospital wards. To help bridge this gap, Artsparks developed a series of virtual art workshops, supported by artist-designed worksheets and individual art packs filled with high-quality materials.
Based on themes already enjoyed by patients across all age groups at the RUH, these resources provide children with opportunities to create, learn and have fun, bringing comfort, distraction and a sense of normality during their hospital stay. The workshops support emotional wellbeing, reduce feelings of isolation, and inspire imagination and creativity when they are needed most.
The resources also have a wider benefit, serving as training and support tools for medical students, play specialists, therapists, Norland nannies and volunteers, helping to promote the value of creativity in enhancing children’s healthcare experiences.
The art bags have become an invaluable resource for children and young people, particularly during evenings and weekends when organised activities may be limited. Containing all the materials needed to complete creative projects, along with simple step-by-step instructions, they enable patients to continue exploring their creativity independently and at their own pace.
“I really loved the workshop and it was so fun to do something creative. Charlotte was very helpful and helped me make some beautiful things. Made my hospital experience loads better, thank you.” Patient
pARTicipate Art Bag Worksheet Example
Art Bag Contents Example
Work Placement Feedback
“As a registered paediatric nurse and Fine Art student, my placement with Art at the Heart provided a unique opportunity to support creative workshops on the Children’s Ward. It was inspiring to see how arts activities helped children and families relax, connect and enjoy a positive experience beyond their medical care. The workshops created space for imagination, one-to-one engagement and meaningful interaction in a way that is difficult to achieve within a busy clinical environment. The placement gave me valuable insight into the role creativity can play in supporting wellbeing and has enriched my development as both an artist and a healthcare professional.” Student