Art+ has worked with Sheffield Museums to bring elements of their collection to Sheffield Children’s, creating the hospital’s very own Mini-Museum.
Working with facilitator Carmen Kalnars, patients on Wards 1, 2 and 3 at the Western Bank site looked at vintage toys from the museum and invented stories on how they might interact. Alongside creative agency Peter and Paul, these stories were turned into special worlds within glass display cabinets at the entrances to the wards. The beautiful artwork allows visitors to peer into the scenes and see the objects children have selected, turning patients into curators of these unique exhibitions.
Many of our patients and families are not regular visitors to museums and galleries, or are unable to visit due to illness. Therefore, it’s brilliant to bring some of the city’s collection into the hospital setting to offer a different experience during their stay. I’ve loved seeing the stories the children have come up with and it’s so special to have these pieces loaned from the museum. Access to arts and heritage is proven to improve both physical and mental health, so we’re excited to keep working with Sheffield Museums on more exhibitions in future.
