Arts in Hospital Arts & craft

Probably one of the best contemporary art 'galleries' in the South West.

Dorset County Hospital houses probably one of the best collections of contemporary art in the South West.

The collection, in the main corridors and internal courtyards of the hospital, is based on the theme of 'Bringing the Outside In' and includes work by photographers Martin Parr, Susan Derges and Gabriella Sancisi; painters Mark Wright, John Hubbard, and Stephen Farthing; sculpture by David Nash and Elisabeth Frink and woodcuts by Emma Stibbon.

Much of the collection was funded by an Arts Council England Lottery Award, although other pieces, including ‘Dog’ by Elisabeth Frink, were donated by the artists.

As well as maintaining the collection, the charity, Arts in Hospital raises funds to do participatory work with patients and staff including poetry readings for older patients in ‘Words for Wards’; and ‘Room with a View’, a ground-breaking approach to stress management in which live images of nature are transmitted to large flat-screen TVs in isolation rooms.

Arts in Hospital has a 'Friends' group and we would be pleased to send details to you if you are interested in supporting the work that we do.

Costs

You are free to wander round the public corridors but guided tours of the collection can be arranged and cost £25 for up to 10 people. Please contact the co-ordinator to discuss.

Directions

In Dorchester, follow the signs to the hospital.

Additional Information

Free, full-colour maps are available at the hospital.

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Jackie  

(16 July 2008)

The public corridors in Dorset County Hospital are a joy to wander around if you like contemporary art. There is no other place in Dorset where you can find such a large collection of high quality, large-scale artworks so it's well worth a look.