Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Paintings in Hospitals
  • Search
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Borrow art Donate
  • Twitter
Menu
  • Who we are
    • Our mission
    • Our history
    • Our team
      • Our team
      • Our patrons
      • Our trustees
      • Jobs & opportunities
    • Our policies & accounts
    • Our major partners
  • What we do
    • Art for loan
      • Art for health and community care
      • How to borrow art
      • Case studies
    • Art activities
      • About art activities
      • Activity guides
      • Activity worksheets
      • Case studies
      • Creative Care Homes guide
    • Art collection
      • About our collection
      • Collection highlights
    • Art projects
      • Current projects
      • Past projects
    • Where we work
  • Why art matters
    • Why art matters
    • Our impact
    • Case studies
    • Research & evaluation
      • Our research
      • Key studies
      • 70 Ways Art Improves Our Health
    • Your stories
  • Join & Support
    • Join our Friends
    • Donate
      • Donate now
      • Fundraise
      • Donate in memory
      • Leave a gift in your Will
    • Volunteer
    • Join our team
    • Suggest a care site
    • Shop
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Events
  • Shop
  • Contact us
    • Blog
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • Our mission
  1. Who we are
  2. Our mission

Our mission

Paintings in Hospitals aims to transform the UK's wellbeing by using world-class art to inspire better health for patients, carers, and communities.

Studies show that art can help us stay well, aid our recovery from illness and injury, and support us to live longer, more fulfilling lives. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience these benefits.

Our work is founded on Cultural Democracy: a democratic approach to arts and culture that actively engages everyone in determining what is classed as culture, where it happens, who makes it, and who accesses it. Paintings in Hospitals is committed to bringing art to everybody by providing artwork loans and art activities to all types of healthcare and social care.

“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

World Health Organisation, 1948

We work in partnership with patients and carers to transform and humanise clinical environments using quality art from our collection. Through art activities and creative workshops, we empower patients and carers with the skills and voice to make their own decisions about art, their care environment and their care experience.

By working together in this way, and sharing our knowledge, Paintings in Hospitals can create public spaces that support wellbeing and enrich the lives of everyone.

Find out more about working together

  • Paintings in Hospitals recognises that ‘connection’ and ‘collection’ are equally important. Read about our new objectives for 2021 and beyond
  • Find out more about our approach to Cultural Democracy and our commitments to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Published: 30th June, 2021

Updated: 20th September, 2023

Author: Thomas Walshaw

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • Leonardo's Dog II by Elisabeth Frink

    Leonardo's Dog II by Elisabeth Frink

    Leonardo’s Dog II by Dame Elisabeth Frink R.A is up for auction at Bonhams today as part of Paintings in Hospitals fundraising efforts.

  • Artist David Allen Creator Of This Year's Christmas Cards

    Artist David Allen Creator Of This Year's Christmas Cards

    David Allen is an artist, writer, and supporter of Paintings in Hospitals and creator of our Christmas cards for this year. In this article he shares his perspective on art and health – how they are interrelated, the inspiration behind his designs for this year’s Christmas Cards, and how he hopes to see art used in the future of healthcare.

  • Finance and Administration Manager

    Finance and Administration Manager

    Paintings in Hospitals has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced Finance & Administration Manager to join our team.

  • New artworks help further brighten St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford

    New artworks help further brighten St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford

    Five additional artworks from the Paintings in Hospitals collection have been loaned to St Michael’s Hospice as part of an installation that aims to support the health and wellbeing of visitors and staff.

Related

  • Finance and Administration Manager

    Finance and Administration Manager

    Paintings in Hospitals has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced Finance & Administration Manager to join our team.

  • Administration Assistant

    Administration Assistant

    We are looking for a new Administration Assistant. If you are an experienced administrator and are looking for rewarding work at an art charity check out our current opportunity.

  • Our Commitments to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

    Paintings in Hospitals is founded on Cultural Democracy: a democratic approach to arts and culture that actively engages everyone in determining what is classed as culture, where it happens, who makes it, and who accesses it.

  • Our new objectives

    Our new objectives

    Our exciting new plans for the charity over the next three years will focus on a rebalance of our capacity and the support we are able to provide to arts engagement activities...

  • Creative Care Homes

    Creative Care Homes

    Our practical and helpful A-Z guide of art activities and inspirational ideas for creative sessions with residents and carers...

  • The Art for Health Auction

    The Art for Health Auction

    Art by Jeremy Deller, Anita Klein, Humphrey Ocean and more. Help us raise critical funds to support patients and carers. Bid now!

  • Healthcare Heroes: Google and Paintings in Hospitals Unveil Virtual Exhibition

    Healthcare Heroes: Google and Paintings in Hospitals Unveil Virtual Exhibition

    We've partnered with Google Arts & Culture and artist Tom Croft to bring over 700 #portraitsforNHSheroes artworks together for the first time!

  • Handy art supplies list

    Handy art supplies list

    This list is intended as a helpful guide rather than a definitive list of essential items. You can make wonderful art with just a few pencils while building up your materials over time...

  • People, Paintings & Positivity

    People, Paintings & Positivity

    In 2019 we began an ambitious project to explore and share Paintings in Hospitals' pioneering heritage and our charity's impact on the nation’s wellbeing...

  • ‘Art helped me through my longest depressive episode’

    ‘Art helped me through my longest depressive episode’

    Emily McGuigan, artist, shares a personal story about how art helped her to face past trauma and begin the healing process…

Most read

  • Our mission

    Our mission

    Paintings in Hospitals is the UK's leading national arts in health charity. We use art to inspire better health and wellbeing for patients, carers, and communities...

  • Art makes us happier and more satisfied with our lives

    Art makes us happier and more satisfied with our lives

    Number 7 in our countdown of '70 Ways Art Improves Our Health' highlights how art makes us happier and more satisfied with our lives…

  • Why art matters

    Art changes everything. Art helps keep us well and aids our recovery from illness. Art relieves anxiety, stress and depression for patients and staff in healthcare and social care.

  • V&A Exhibitions

    V&A Exhibitions

    Paintings in Hospitals has been working with the V&A for over 15 years to bring parts of their collection to patients across the country...

  • About our art collection

    About our art collection

    Our art collection is the only national arts in health collection. Over 2,000 artists are represented, including Bridget Riley, Antony Gormley, Andy Warhol, Anish Kapoor, Maggi Hambling, and many more.

  • Autism and art often go hand in hand

    Autism and art often go hand in hand

    Number 22 in our countdown of '70 Ways Art Improves Our Health' highlights how people on the autism spectrum can contribute to and benefit from art...

  • Meet our team

    Meet our team

    Find out who we are, where we're from, and why we're so passionate about arts and health...

  • Make a donation

    Make a donation

    *IMPORTANT NOTICE* We are currently unable to process one-off donation payments on our website. We expect this to be resolved soon but in the meantime, if you would like to donate please contact [email protected] for information.

  • Art activities for health and social care

    Art activities for health and social care

    We provide world-class art and creative activities to transform your healthcare environment. We know that patients and staff get the greatest benefits when they’re empowered with the skills and confidence to make a meaningful connection with art.

  • Five reasons why making art is good for you

    Five reasons why making art is good for you

    Making art can benefit both our mental and physical wellbeing. Here are just five of the ways making art can be good for us...

Tag cloud

60 Voices 60 Years Activity Care Homes Collection Collection Highlight CSM Donate Exhibition Loans NHS70 Older People Patrons Project Research Trustees
Make a donation

Make a donation

*IMPORTANT NOTICE* We are currently unable to process one-off donation payments on our website. We expect this to be resolved soon but in the meantime, if you would like to donate please contact [email protected] for information. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 1st January, 2020

Updated: 29th November, 2023

Author: Thomas Walshaw

Comments: 3



Join our Friends

For a regular donation of just £10 a month receive a 10% membership discount via our website or eBay shop.

For more information about how your data is stored and used, see our privacy policy.

Connect with us

    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
  • linkedin
  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy policy

Paintings in Hospitals is a Registered Charity (1065963) and a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales (3450832)
© 2017-2022 Paintings in Hospitals
Paintings in Hospitals is registered with the Fundraising Regulator
Jerwood Foundation

Manage Cookie Preferences