Alexandra Reinhardt Memorial Award
An Artist in Residence Project and Commission – Year 2
INFORMATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE
In 2005, PiH received a grant from the Max Reinhardt Charitable Trust to set up and run an annual artist in residence project to be based at a different NHS hospital each year for the next five years. The award has been established as a memorial to Alexandra Reinhardt, an artist who died aged 43 in 2004, having battled with a rare blood disorder all her life. The first residency was hosted by Great Ormond Street Hospital last year and the second will take place in 2006 at The John Radcliffe Hospital (JRH) in Oxford.
The appointed artist will be based in the Feto-Maternal Medicine Department in the Women’s Centre. The unit specialises in high risk pregnancies as well as monitoring all in-patients for Obstetrics. Up to 150 out-patients are assessed during weekly clinics and are sometimes required to wait for 1 ½ hours for test results. These patients are often accompanied by young children. In addition the unit also has in-patients on wards who have been admitted for observation during pregnancy.
The unit has scan rooms, consultation rooms and a waiting area for out-patients all connected by narrow corridors. Most of these rooms are small but have large windows overlooking the grounds and the city.
The artist will be asked to involve patients and staff in creative activity that will lead to two new pieces of site-specific artwork for permanent display in the department and a third piece for PiH’s collection which will be available to other hospitals through its loan scheme. In addition the artist will be given the opportunity of a four week exhibition at PiH’s gallery in the Menier Chocolate Factory in 2007.
The award is open to artists using a range of media, i.e. painting, printmaking, photography, textiles, and wall-mounted sculpture and preferably those with ‘artist in residence’ experience and/or that of working with vulnerable people in a healthcare setting.The project aims to:
- provide opportunities for patients to observe and participate in the creative process of an artist
- bring the enjoyment of works of art to patients, visitors and staff at the hospital
- contribute to the development of the artist
- broaden the PiH collection
The artist’s role will be:
- to interact with patients in a stimulating and enjoyable way
- to provide patients with opportunities for self-expression
- to produce art work which will improve the hospital environment
Location and Timescale:
The residency will take place in the Feto-Maternal Medicine Department, Level 6, The Women’s Centre, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU. The residency will take place during an agreed ten week period, between June and September 2006.
Process:
Each artist will devise her/his own working process in relation to the needs and interests of the patients. It is important that the working process is flexible, however, a minimum contact time for work with patients will be agreed between the artist, PiH and JRH staff.
Artists may decide to use different media and processes for the contact and production periods. Alternatively, an artist may wish to make the work entirely on site, depending on practicalities.
Contact time:
The aim of the contact time is for the artist to engage with the patients and staff, facilitating an exchange of ideas and encouraging participation through discussion and activities where appropriate. A member of the JRH staff will support the artist during contact sessions. A member of PiH’s curatorial staff will support the artist during this period, through visits and meetings.
This period may be perceived of as research towards the production of finished work, OR, the work produced in collaboration with patients and staff may become central to the finished work itself.Production time:
The artist is expected to produce two finished art works for permanent display in the hospital. The first of these will be for a public space and the second for a small room where staff often have to break difficult news to patients. A third piece will be made for the PiH loan collection. The artist may choose to work entirely on site or to complete the finished works at an alternative venue if appropriate. Please note PiH is unable to provide studio accommodation and it will be the artist’s responsibility to make arrangements for such a facility if required. All completed work will need to be wall mounted and all work must be produced in accordance with health and safety regulations.
Fees and Costs:
The artist’s Residency Fee totals £5,000 based on contact and production time comprising 2 days per week for 10 weeks. In addition there is a £1,500 Studio Fee. Both fees are paid on a freelance basis. The materials budget for the residency has been allocated at £500. Framing / presentation and installation costs for the three final pieces will be covered by PiH separately.
Exhibition costs will be covered by PiH with the exception of framing. Please note travel and other additional expenses are not refundable by PiH.Selection Criteria:
We are particularly interested in hearing from artists with relevant experience of working with vulnerable people in a healthcare setting. The selection of each artist will be made on the following criteria:
- relevant previous experience
- strength of the proposal / outline put forward
- the proposed working process / media
- examples of your previous works and the suitability of the proposed works for permanent display in the hospital and inclusion in the PiH Collection
The appointed artist will need a Criminal Records Bureau check; to be carried out by the hospital.
TO APPLY:
Please send up to 10 slides / photographs / images of your work on disk, your CV and a supporting letter, outlining your interest in the project and detailing relevant experience. In addition to this, please complete and return p.4 of this information pack, describing a possible approach that you may take to the residency, your chosen media and working method to involve the patients and staff.
Download Artist Info Pack (PDF)
Download Artist Info Pack (Word) 
If you would like our receipt of your entry to be acknowledged, please enclose a stamped addressed postcard. Short-listed candidates will be contacted by 7 April. You will also need to enclose a stamped addressed envelope (pre-paid registered post if required) for return of your documentation. We regret that due to the number of entries, we are unable to give feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Applicants are specifically asked NOT to contact staff at The John Radcliffe Hospital for further information on this project.
Extended Deadline for Receipt of Applications: 5pm, Friday 7 April 2006.
Interviews: Short-listed artists will be invited to an interview on Wednesday 26 April 2006.
Please send your application to:
Helen Bonar
Assistant Curator
Paintings in Hospitals
First Floor,
Menier Chocolate Factory,
51 Southwark Street
London
SE1 1RU