Shezad Dawood is one of the organisers of a new project which brings artworks to hospital staff rooms in London. Exhibiting artists include Yinka Shonibare, Eloise Fornieles and Annie Morris .
#100NHSRooms is a partnership between Dawood, Vital Arts, Modern Forms, and the UK National Health Service (Barts Health NHS Trust). The project is focused on the well-being of health workers, and is intended to create small spaces for reflection, exploration and escape. The project is possible largely thanks to donations and voluntary contributions.
Vital Arts is the Arts and Health service for Barts Health NHS Trust, and designed the project with staff mental health in mind. “With mounting evidence demonstrating the benefits of art on mental health in clinical settings, the initiative will be a lasting legacy of a commitment to the wellbeing of NHS frontline workers” (Vital Arts). #100NHSRooms is bringing artworks to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Newham Hospital, Whipps Cross Hospital and the Royal London Hospital. As well as being on display at these locations, the collection can also be explored online on the Vital Arts website.
Over thirty artists have donated artworks to the project. Participating artists so far include Mania Akbari & Douglas White; Charles Avery; Shiraz Bayjoo; Rana Begum; Victor Burgin; Matthew Burrows; Oliver Chanarin; Jake and Dinos Chapman; Shezad Dawood; Jeremy Deller & Fraser Muggeridge; Eloise Fornieles; Gaia Fugazza; Margarita Gluzberg; Anne Hardy; Diango Hernández; Henry Hudson; Harminder Singh Judge; Peter Liversidge; Lakwena Maciver; Marta Marcé; Haroon Mirza; Annie Morris; Yelena Popova; Yinka Shonibare; Shaan Syed; Conrad Shawcross; Grantchester Pottery; Barbara Walker; Mark Wallinger; and Catherine Yass.