The art of healing – celebrating 30 years of Vital Arts
Our very own Vital arts, one of the UK’s leading Creative Health teams, is celebrating its 30th year in 2026.
Charitably funded, their projects involve collaboration with our staff, patients, and the wider hospital communities. Working with artists and a range of cultural organisations, Vital Arts brings exceptional arts and culture to our five hospitals.
Their mission is to enhance the clinical environment and provide a positive hospital experience, promote resilience, recovery and wellbeing. Vital Arts devises and delivers meaningful cultural encounters through various programming strands, site-specific artwork, creative workshops, music, dance and literature projects.
Since their launch in 1996, Vital Arts has commissioned hundreds of site-specific artworks and delivered over 120 engagement projects and partnerships, and more than 1,000 workshops, encouraging over countless patients and staff to consider their health and wellbeing through creativity.
In 2025 alone, 50 workshops across music, art and dance were delivered that reached over 800 patients, staff and visitors, receiving positive responses:
"It was very different and unexpected, and they made sure everyone was involved, it was so entertaining I would give it 10/10." - A patient who took part in the English National Ballet project at Newham Hospital.
"Just wanted to say how thoroughly uplifting yesterday’s beautiful opera singing was. It was extremely enjoyable but most of all it really helped some of those patients and visitors. I could see them opening up to her and that was very emotional." - Opera at St Bartholomew’s Hospital
"This was a very meaningful and mindful, beautiful event. I have never experienced anything like this before. The staff were very friendly. I Took a few of my words and transformed into a wonderful poem" - A patient who took part in the Poetry takeaway at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
Research shows that art in clinical settings boosts wellbeing and recovery. A recent report found that 82% of individuals engaging with the arts reported improved wellbeing, reinforcing the value of creative health interventions in hospital settings.
Work across our hospitals include:
St Bartholomew’s Hospital:
Participation:
Commissions:
- Richard Wentworth
- Linac Suites ceilings by Darren Almond, Sophy Rickett, Simon Patterson and Susan Derges
The Royal London Hospital:
Participation:
Commissions:
Mile End Hospital:
Commissions:
Newham Hospital:
Participation:
Commissions:
Whipps Cross Hospital:
Participation:
Commissions:
Lear more about recent commissions here.
Shane DeGaris, group chief executive of Barts Health, said: "A huge congratulations to Vital Arts on celebrating 30 years. I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the entire team for bringing colour, creativity and moments of calm into our hospitals. Over the years, your work has transformed clinical spaces into uplifting environments - bringing positivity to patients, visitors and staff alike, and helping to make what can be a challenging time a little bit brighter."
To celebrate 30 years, the team are holding a fundraiser, so that we may continue offering year-round participation opportunities for our patients and colleagues.
Should any staff identify a patient-facing area that would benefit from the addition of artwork, please contact the Vital Art team who will work with you to develop an art strategy for your area.