Local artists and groups from Renfrewshire are being invited to provide ideas for a stunning new mural planned within the grounds of the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
The mural, which will be painted on the external walls of the hospital’s Chaplaincy building, on the south side of the campus, will complement a new HALO Garden, which recently opened and provides a haven of greenspace and tranquillity for those who use the facility’s intensive care complex.
Yvonne Dolan, Lead Nurse within Critical Care, said: “The COVID pandemic brought many challenges to staff, patients and families. Outdoor space became increasingly important to allow patients and families to visit briefly, but safely, and to staff for respite from the challenging clinical environment, particularly the PPE being worn in intensive care units. The HALO gardens have given us accessible, intimate spaces for our use visible from the Intensive Care Unit. The mural would enhance the HALOs further and provide a welcome visual attraction for all patients overlooking this building.”
Renfrewshire artists and local arts groups are being invited to come up with idea for the mural and submit outline sketches, with the selected design winning £300 with two runner-up prizes of £150 each.
Jackie Sands, Senior Arts and Health lead at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “The theme is really about the healing power of nature and creating a mural which will really improve the space and build on the natural beauty of the new HALO garden and surrounding the hospital more widely.
“The outdoors and greenspace is very important to health and wellbeing and the design concept should include nature, including flowers such as forget-me-nots, which are planted in the gardens, as well as rowan trees, wildflowers, juniper shrubs and blueberry shrubs.”
Jackie added: “What we would love is a design that will help to improve the overall look, feel and welcome of the hospital, offering a supportive and therapeutic experience for patients, their carers, staff and the general public. We want people to be as creative as possible within the overall brief.”
Artists and groups have until 1 August to get their concept submissions in. To request the detailed brief, including how to submit your concept designs please email HIAdmin@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
The hospital’s Pond and Beyond Arts and Greenspace Strategy Group will then select the winning design.