Community 1st Oldham (C1OL)
C1OL Vision
Arts for Health
The LIFT programme has always aspired to provide high quality environments for both patients and staff. The use of arts in health buildings can contribute to this aspiration; however it has traditionally been used in acute or mental health settings.
With the greater emphasis on providing care closer to home, it is vital that the environments, from which we deliver increasingly complex care, support the healing process.
There has been significant research (Ulrich 2005) indicating the benefits of well thought out design and creating inspiring environments; for example the quality of the waiting area has a positive impact on patients experience and the service they receive when set against the amount of time they wait.
In addition to these benefits, the process of developing art and artwork for these environments would be an integral part of involving the public in the project. It therefore contributes to the need to ensure such involvement in local developments.
The recently published White Paper: 'Our Health, Our Care, Our Say' places greater emphasis on giving people of all ages a stronger voice in the delivery of health and social care services; involving them in the specific projects to which new buildings provide an opportunity to meet this aim. Engaging young people particularly in health issues, and providing a practical outlet for their ideas, gives a real opportunity to involve and educate.
Creative application of the arts can help to shape a more inspiring vision for the buildings in which healthcare and community service are delivered, and so make a positive contribution to the health and well-being of the whole community.
The Arts for Health programme will contribute to:
- Local community ownership and accessibility
- An innovative and high quality environment for the delivery of health care and community services
- High quality visual impact
- A health promoting environment
- Increased satisfaction with service provision
- Act as a model for future developments in the county
- Deliver landmark works
- Inspire site specific environments
The programme is currently being supported by a number of organisations across Oldham, including:
- Oldham Primary Care Trust
- Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
- Oldham College
- Gallery Oldham
- Arts Council North West
- Groundwork Trust Oldham and Rochdale
