NHSGGC’s Arts and Health initiatives foster safe, welcoming environments and enhance the healthcare experience for patients, staff, and visitors. Through a person-centred and integrated approach, the programme leverages the positive impact of art, architecture, design, music, and nature on health and wellbeing.
Programmes are evidence-based and include public art commissions, creative workshops, and integrated design strategies across clinical buildings and green spaces. Developed in collaboration with artists, educators, voluntary sector organisations, and funders, the work celebrates Scotland’s creative talent.
Explore the programme highlights below, including innovative designs for clinical spaces and the role of arts in healthcare.
What’s On / News
Exhibition by local school pupils goes on display at the RAH
Artwork created by Renfrewshire school children has gone on display to staff and visitors at the Roy…
NHSGGC exhibits as part of a national art festival for mental health
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is proud to announce its partnership with the Mental Health F…
NHSGGC dancers to star at Healing Arts Scotland
Staff throughout NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are to play a starring role in a week-long celebratio…
Arts and Social Justice
The Arts and Health programme contributes to reducing health inequalities by improving access to the arts. It enhances care environments, supports treatment, and sparks dialogue that informs service improvement. Community-based creative health projects foster collaboration and strengthen local relationships.
Case Study: Black Mother and Baby Mural
Located at the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, this mural responds to campaigner Rachel Dallas’s work on maternal health inequalities. It has prompted meaningful conversations and cultural change within NHSGGC.
“It’s not just a mural”
Read more about the project here: Work completes on giant mural at Glasgow Royal Infirmary
Click on the image below to view our Arts and Social Justice gallery on Flickr.
Animating Public Spaces
This innovative programme brings performing arts, exhibitions, and artist residencies into healthcare settings, demonstrating the psychological and physiological benefits of cultural engagement. It provides opportunities for artists and partners to showcase work in clinical environments, often offering patients their only access to the arts.
Art and Green Spaces
Art is integrated into the design and enhancement of green spaces, promoting outdoor activity and wellbeing. Programmes span clinical and mental health sites and extend into neighbouring community areas.
Art Commissions in Green Spaces
Case Study: Moon Gate
Alec Finlay’s sculpture marks the entrance to New Stobhill Hospital, encouraging interaction with nature through poetry-engraved boulders, bird boxes, and seating. This project broadened architectural thinking to include surrounding landscapes.
Art in the Gart
At Gartnavel Royal Hospital, this long-standing initiative supports mental health recovery through exhibitions, public art, and green space activities. Inspired by patient creativity, it is sustained by volunteers and partnerships with organisations like Common Wheel and Project Ability.
The programme has influenced similar initiatives at Leverndale and Stobhill Hospitals.
Click on the image below to view our Art and Green Spaces gallery on Flickr.
Health by Design
The aim of this work is to modernise services and improve health through integrated art and design strategies within new buildings, green spaces and refurbishments. Artists work collaboratively with architects and stakeholders in order to improve the environment.
We commission artists to contribute works for permanent installation in our clinical spaces and surrounding green spaces.
Case Studies – Therapeutic Design
Dignified Spaces
Dignified Spaces: Supporting conversations was one of six commissioned projects for the new South Glasgow University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
More than eighty quiet rooms were enhanced as part of the project, using principles of biophilic design to enhance wellbeing. These rooms are used for a range of purposes, of which the most important are conversations between clinical, nursing or spiritual care staff and patients’ relatives and carers.
Find out more: https://www.nicolamurray.com/work/case-studies/nsgh-dignified-spaces/
https://www.artinscotland.tv/2015/dignified-spaces-project/
100 Flowers
100 Flowers is an art collection curated by Clare Phillips on behalf of Ginkgo Projects for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s new South Glasgow University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Over 70 artists contributed by making works for the collection, which is installed across the new buildings.
Some other examples of our Health by Design initiatives:
Art in Medicine
Art in Hospital delivers a comprehensive and ongoing visual arts programme across a wide range of healthcare settings in Glasgow and throughout Scotland.
Originally focused on long-term care for older adults, the programme has expanded to support individuals in rehabilitation and assessment units, those with life-limiting illnesses, young people with physical disabilities, mental health service users, outpatients, and patients undergoing rheumatology treatment, renal dialysis, or palliative care. Through creative engagement, Art in Hospital enhances well-being, self-expression, and the overall healthcare experience.
Useful Resources
The positive impact of creative and performing arts on health and wellbeing is demonstrated by numerous projects across Glasgow and Scotland. These projects bring together professional artists and local community organisations working with a range of media including drawing and painting, digital photography, textiles, video, printmaking, music and drama.
Please see the links below to find out more about creative health initiatives, organisations and research.
Arts in Health
The Buddy Beat
A Renfrewshire drumming group for adults with mental health experience, aimed at promoting social inclusion and helping people self-manage their week.
Culture Health & Wellbeing Alliance
Arts, Culture, Health & Wellbeing, Scotland (ACHWS)
ACHWS has developed into an active Scotland-wide network providing information and support for anyone working across arts and culture, health and wellbeing. It is a collective voice for arts and health in Scotland.
Music in Health
MacDonald, Raymond AR (2013)
Music, health and wellbeing: a review International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Health and Wellbeing
Common Wheel A charity that supports people managing or recovering from mental illness and dementia by providing meaningful activities.
Social Determinants of Health
Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU)
Leave No One Behind (2023) Report on the state of health and health inequalities in Scotland: https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2023/HF_Health_Scotland_Web_Final.pdf
Organisations
Project Ability Creating opportunities through inclusive art for all, providing a welcoming arts community for people with learning disabilities and mental ill-health.
Glasgow Medical Humanities Network
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
British Association of Art Therapists
Creative Health Research
Evidence summary for policy: The role of arts in improving health and wellbeing (2020)
Creative Scotland Arts and Health Map (2021) https://www.creativescotland.com/binaries/content/assets/creative-scotland/resources-and-publications/research/2022/creative-scotland-arts-and-health-mapping-report.pdf