Publish date: 13 March 2024
The Healing Space Together exhibition launch took place on Thursday 7 March and brought together both past and present staff and service users of the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service.
The event was very well attended (with over 65 people) and everyone took the time to look at all the amazing pieces of artwork, as well as the newly painted reception area, some clinical rooms and corridors. Feedback from service users in particular has been really positive, with many sharing how the change in colours, together with the artwork brings a more vibrant, warm and welcoming feel to the space.
In addition to viewing the artwork, there was an opportunity to hear from participants and artists who have all been involved in this project. One service user shared a poem which poignantly spoke to her experience after witnessing the Grenfell fire and the hope that she saw through her artwork and in humanity. There was also a 72 second silence held to remember every life lost in Grenfell.
The project was built upon the creative strengths of the Grenfell impacted community. A team of SUITS, community connectors and clinicians from the Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service (GHWS) worked alongside artists, Lana Locke and Anna Frijstein, to deliver a collaborative arts project focused on inspiring themes of hope, resilience and collective regrowth. Following on from the four workshops, the documenting session and paint selections, and finally, the installation done by the team, all artwork is now on permanent display in the GHWS garden entrance, reception and clinical rooms.
The team sends a big thank you to everyone who came to support the exhibition that evening. The project hopes that the artworks will continue to inspire conversations for everyone who uses the service with a sense of hope, creativity, strength and community.
Finally, we hope that the space will create a warm and welcoming feel instead of a “clinical space feel”, which was something service users have mentioned wanting over the years and during the workshops.
