Art and the Public Realm Bristol

Commissioned by PFI developers Carillion, Willis Newson is working with Fresh Arts, the ongoing arts programme at North Bristol NHS Trust, to deliver a major public art programme for the new £430m super hospital on the Southmead site in Bristol. This will aim to enhance patient experience by creating therapeutic environments, and improve morale amongst staff during development, easing the transition to the new building.

The public art programme follows on from an art strategy produced by Willis Newson in 2007 for a public art programme. The programme will be firmly rooted in the local context and will explore the idea of community within the site. Art commissions and projects will be designed to enhance the landscape and the hospital environment as a whole and to support way finding. Plans include major landmark commissions for permanent integrated artworks in both internal and external spaces as well as other artworks and features. Various spaces will be developed for use as ongoing creative resources and public engagement and outreach programmes will involve local schools and community groups.

Internationally acclaimed and local artists will be appointed to deliver art commissions for the new £430m Southmead Private Finance Initiative (PFI) development in Bristol. These form part of the major arts programme developed by Willis Newson in partnership with PFI developer Carillon, North Bristol NHS Trust and Fresh Arts.

Willis Newson has been working with Theresa Bergne of Field Art Projects to research and co-ordinate the artist recruitment process for this project.

Southmead Hospital

Southmead Hospital is a £430m super hospital for Bristol being developed by the NHS Trust and PFI developers Carillion. The hospital is an 800 bed acute hospital being built on the existing Southmead site and is due to open its doors to patients in 2014.

Willis Newson

Willis Newson is a leading Bristol-based independent arts consultancy specialising in creative approaches to improving health and wellbeing.  It develops public art strategies for new builds and refurbishments, develops and manages public art plans and public engagement programmes, delivers training for artists and performers in healthcare settings and provides advice and guidance on the design and implementation of projects to promote healthy environments and improve health and wellbeing.