Help inspire the future of mental health units with incredible art

Join the team from arts and mental health charity Hospital Rooms and the artist Susie Hamilton for two exciting practical art workshops at the Courtauld Gallery in February 2022.

These in-person workshops are aimed at anyone who has used mental health services, and their friends, families or carers. The workshops are part of a Hospital Rooms project to create artworks for a brand new mental health hospital opening at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, in Tooting, London, in Autumn 2022.

Susie is one of twenty artists creating artwork for the new hospital and we would love for those who have accessed mental health services to inform what this should look and feel like.

Find out more about the project: www.hospital-rooms.com / @_hospitalrooms

Above: Participants at work in a previous workshop hosted by Susie Hamilton

To book your place please click ‘Select a date’. Both sessions are free and either one or both can be booked.

All Hospital Rooms workshops are BSL accessible. Please email Jen Cheema (jen@hospital-rooms.com) for further information.

The workshops

These two workshop will take inspiration from the exhibition: Van Gogh Self Portraits at the Courtauld Gallery.

Session 1 – Tuesday 18th January, 2pm-4pm

In-person at the Courtauld Gallery and Learning Centre (Central London)

Join Susie Hamilton to view extraordinary Van Gogh paintings in the gallery and then create your own self portraits in different poses or attire (hats and scarves provided!) We will learn about Van Gogh’s developing use of colour from his somber, tonal work to his later chromatic painting. You can attend one or both of these sessions.

Above: Van Gogh, Self portrait with bandaged ear. Courtauld Gallery.

Session 2 – Tuesday 8th February, 2pm-4pm

In-person at the Courtauld Learning Centre (Central London)

During our second session, you will have more time to work on your self portraits inspired by the Van Gogh exhibition. We will also reflect on how we choose to represent ourselves and our surroundings and how this might inform the artwork that Susie will create for the main stairwell at the new Springfield Hospital. You can attend one or both of these sessions.

Above: Van Gogh, Self Portrait (1887).

Further information and Covid safety

1) Choose your session(s)

Book a ticket for each session by clicking ‘Select a date’. Spaces are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis and waiting lists will open up in case spaces become available nearer the time.

2) No arts experience is necessary.

All materials and refreshments will be provided. Please let us know of any dietary requirements or access/transportation needs by emailing Natalie Tilbury natalie@hospital-rooms.com

3) BSL accessibility

A British Sign Language interpreter will be joining all sessions.

4) Covid safety

We will be asking participants to take a lateral flow test prior to attending, wearing a face covering during the session, making provisions for social distancing and avoiding sharing materials. Full Covid safety measures will be outlined in the workshop agenda that you will receive shortly after signing up.

Questions and accessibility requirements:

Please email Hospital Rooms’ Natalie Tilbury who will be happy to help: natalie@hospital-rooms.com