The pilot initiative was designed by Artist Svetlana Atlavina and Art Therapist Kimberley Iyemere at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation Trust of NHS. The financial grant from Art Council England and The National Lottery Fund supported the application and provided the outstanding opportunity to establish the Art Club for all staff. 

The Pilot scheme of twelve online art workshops supported clinical and corporate staff, staff working on the wards and in the community, and staff who were working from home, with a safe and friendly environment. SVETTA offered a new way of engaging and absorbing in creative, restoring virtual art activities. workshops focused on encouraging creative thinking through the participatory frame. In addition, grant funding provided free art materials to all participants which were delivered to the office or home doors. 

Twelve weeks after the start of the project the outcome will go live in the form of the online exhibition on 10th March 2021. There are more than 100 artworks created during the pandemic, all works show the determination, joyful moments of creative thinking, devotion in embracing art as a means of continuing wellbeing. The Art Club is growing and it will not stop. The very positive result is that CPFT would like to continue to receive weekly art workshops not only for staff but will extend the offer to the wide health care community in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, this would include providing art materials for newcomers. 

The exciting time during sessions became the ‘escape colourful bubble’ and an art refuge space during the current pandemic. SVETTA Art Club nourishes inspiration and creative thinking for diverse group of participants. Members have been uploading their artworks, ideas, useful links, and supportive commentaries to the chat. There are connections which backing friendly relationships between colleagues. Discussions at the end provide time for personal stories, empathy minutes and huge encouragement in expressing unique qualities of each participant. 

Messages in the chat and stories around the Trust show a vibrant resonance about how much art sessions are helping staff cope with the stressful clinical environment, how new connections in art assist with stress and pressure at workspace. How decisions at work are influenced by creative and decisive thinking during art sessions.

Below are a few commentaries from SVETTA Art Club participants.  They are very personal and show the value and appreciation of the pilot scheme for the Art Club for staff at CPFT.

K: This is the first time I have ventured into art and artistic expression. I’m enjoying immensely exploring and experimenting with art materials and styles. The videos, descriptions and guidance from Svetlana are fascinating and inspiring.

I’ve also discovered that art is very practical which is a delight. At work I’ve become interested in how creativity can help shape strategy development, team effectiveness, personal development and other aspects of corporate life. My experiments with art at work include using drawing and mindfulness to talk about wellbeing, story telling and metaphor to understand challenges from new perspectives and using poems to explore listening/team working. I’m intrigued by the ripples from Art Club and how they appear unexpectedly in my work and personal life. For example, because of Art Club I’ve become very curious about how art and creativity can illuminate our lives. I volunteered to take part in research at Edinburgh University about how writing poetry can help people communicated about their health. I’m new to art and new to poetry, but because of Art Club I’m discovering them, and enjoy using art to experess/add to the poems I create. Art Club has taught me that its ok not to an expert, it’s the process and the experience that matters and where change/something new can emerge.

L: On receiving free art materials: I felt so delighted with my initial package. Like a child at Christmas! Subsequent packages have also been lovely surprises. I enjoyed the work with clay. It was great fun and something that I hadn’t done for years. I loved seeing the face come to life and your tips on accentuating various characteristics by placing paper underneath was brilliant! Art workshops offer  a wonderful break and something completely different in the week. I find the group very warm and non-judgemental. it as a fun, warm and relaxing space to meet with others and produce some art without any pressure. There is always a sense of total acceptance. 

D:I am grateful finding opportunity to participate in Art club! IT helps with developing my imagination and placing it on paper, being able to create without artistic background, and ability to meet new people via teams and art is magical coping strategy during pandemic and beyond. I love Uploading my artwork to the Art Club Chat, there  are comments and people’s appreciation. It became a mental oasis. Art is not about improving but creating. We discussed that we learn and taking inspirations from  from each other.

D: Being in touch with other and creating are together independently and receiving feedback on it, also just letting go of my personal constrains and not being afraid to mess things and goofing about a bit and relaxing more and letting my own anxieties go as it does not have to be perfect and precise and not worrying about the overall look of the piece. Like I normally do when producing my own art for me or sale or public display. I say that Art Club is a very Positive place. I'm not entirely sure how I could have got through most of these difficult times without having something nice to look forward on a Wednesdays. So thank you for your time and support.

A: I discuss the group and the experience in very positive terms, such that there has been interest and some “jealousy” 😊 I have shared the positiveness of the experience with my manager, and it is now in my appraisal, Thank you so much. Interestingly when I reflect on discussions- those I have in private with other art club members are more honest and open about the experience. I have found the time spent with others in the art club, the inspiration of yourself and other people and the positivity of the group- and noticing how much more I look at things seeing shade and light, colour and evidence of age or use.

R: I found that doing art took my mind off all the challenges of my clinical work instantaneously. This was a godsend at a time when we have been under enormous pressure due to the pandemic. Although I had done a lot of art before, in my younger years, exploring some of the techniques that I had used before as well as learning new ones with Svetlana was something that would not have happened had it not been for the Art Club. I look forward to the meetings during the week and they help me cope with the stresses of my job. It was nice to see others’ work and also to have a small but sympathetic audience for my own.  My family have been very enthusiastic about the artwork I produce and the techniques we learnt.

M: A time to take my mind off the concerns and responsibilities of the day and find freedom to ‘wander’ even in constraints of the lockdown.  Re-connecting with the child-like simplicity of making art for the sake of the enjoyment of it and reminding myself that the process and experience of making it is more important than the finished result.  A chance to experiment with different artistic techniques, materials and ideas that I wound not have managed to consider on my own.

M: I got myself back in a creative mood. Gave structure to my creativity and inspiration by seeing other people’s work. Great relaxing time with a friendly group. Pleased with what I produced in the time.

R:  Such a friendly, joyous group of people who I have become very fond of. Each member lifts each other’s spirits and I cannot express how much I have enjoyed it so far. On receiving free art materials: Receiving art materials via post? – yes, very grateful for the extensive pack of materials

A: The pandemic has brought extra challenges to deal with on top of those we normally experience, such as home schooling; separation from loved ones; home working;  and working with service users, colleagues, and other professionals from a distance.  Despite having less activities and appointments to attend due to covid restrictions, life has felt much harder at times.  By attending the art sessions over the last couple of months I have been given a positive focus and a space to allow my creativity to flourish.

When a colleague first mentioned the art sessions, I was intrigued by the idea but also a bit daunted as I didn't think I was any good at art.  Luckily, I ignored my doubts and decided to give it a go.  As an overthinker the sessions have set me free, there isn't time to over-think.  I come up with an idea after watching the video for that session, and I just go with it.  If my initial idea isn't working, I adapt and try adding something different or totally change my original plan.  The outcomes have often surprised me.  Outside of the sessions I have been inspired to read about different techniques, mediums and artists.  At times I have felt a real energy and excitement at the thought of what I could create next.  Seeing what the other art club members have created and how differently we all interpret the themes has been a really enjoyable experience too.  Attending the art club has given me a real sense of achievement, and I am proud of what I have been able to create.