Celebrating Creativity And Culture With Our EnjoyArt Summer Arts Festival

This month, both of our hospitals were filled with colour, creativity and culture as we celebrated our second annual EnjoyArt Summer Arts Festival.

EnjoyArt is funded by our charity, bringing a wide variety of creative activities to our patients and families to enhance their experience and reduce anxiety and stress. 

This year’s festival was themed ‘Crafts and Culture’, with a focus on community, connection, culture and creativity. From Monday 3 to Thursday 6 August, patients and families at our Children’s Hospital could take part in a range of creative activities and performances in the Waterfall House Garden.

We welcomed back familiar faces including Real Arts Workshops, who raised awareness of Deaf culture and BSL, and Sohan Kailey, who brought plenty of energy to the garden with an upbeat Bhangra dance workshop. Young people could also make their mark on large canvases with graffiti artist Mohammed Ali, while Waheeda Rahman-Mair from You Be You introduced children to Rangoli art and helped them create their own colourful designs.

EnjoyArt’s partner organisations, including Apollo and the Giggle Doctors, added to the festival magic, while B’Opera brought families together for an uplifting sing-song and Rhythm Time explored music from cultures around the world using historical instruments on loan from Birmingham Museums. There were also plenty of crafts to get stuck into, from lantern-making to mehndi designs.

For patients and families, the festival offered a chance to step away from the wards or relax after an appointment and enjoy a cheerful atmosphere.

Families said: “It helped provide a positive experience to coming to the hospital, which can sometimes be a stressful experience.”

“The festival made my little sister’s day. She was fed up with staying inside and was sad, but once she took part in the activities, it made her day.”

On Friday 7 August, mindful crafts were also brought to wards and departments across our Women’s Hospital. Women waiting in the Antenatal Clinic created colourful decorations with artist Zunaira Raid.

“It was a fun and simple way to liven up the day. It helped reduce my anxiety while waiting for my appointment.”

Elinor Cole, EnjoyArt Manager said: “Our Summer Arts Festival has grown bigger and better each year, with more art and creativity bringing joy and colour to our hospitals. This year, our event took place during the summer holidays, enabling those children spending time in hospital to still have fun and take part in exciting activities. Our theme of ‘Crafts and Culture’ succeeded in bringing people together to celebrate artforms, music and dance from around the world. It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces and fantastic artworks being created.”