Finding Space

Finding Space is a research based approach to improving the environment within the psychiatric healthcare setting at Dykebar Hospital in Paisley.

Finding Space uses inclusive and collaborative methods to commission arts based projects that aim to challenge and develop the healthcare environment.

Through working with artists the Finding Space project aims to provide a strategic approach to creating therapeutic and healing environments for patients, staff and visitors. In developing a rationale for project development, Ginkgo Projects have adopted an overall concept for the hospital art commissions programme. This concept is based on establishing a sense of place within Dykebar, and to contributing to the physical environment of the hospital site in its broadest sense.

Throughout the research and consultation for Finding Space, there was one strong recurrent theme. Many people spoke of mental healthcare in one of two ways: The Journey and The Care Pathway. These terms were used to express the physical and the psychological journeys from illness to recovery; both in the process of medical treatment to well being and in the practical routes from medical institutions back to home.

By taking the journey and care pathway expressions as a starting point, the commissions programme seeks to further explore and learn more about how the hospital operates, and the role and purpose it serves. In this way, it is hoped that the arts programme will be developed to enrich and de-mystify the experience of visiting, working in or staying in the hospital, and to reduce the anxiety and stress often associated with the hospital environment.

At the heart of Finding Space is the delivery of a programme of artists' commissions curated by Ginkgo Projects in association with visual artists Chris Helson and Sarah Jackets.

For further information about Finding Space and the commissions.

Contact: ginkgo@findingspace.org