19th January 2010

Impact Art has been appointed to develop and deliver an arts and interior design project for St. Barnabas House Hospice’s new building.  The hospice seeks to improve the lives of adults with advanced progressive life-limiting illnesses. Impact Art will work with artists to develop an interior concept that will create a unique, harmonious, holistic and therapeutic environment.

Arts in progress
The £13.5m new build is due to open in Autumn 2010. Working alongside the Hospice, contractors Vinci Construction and architects R.H. Partnership, Impact Art Director Belinda Holden is currently devising the arts strategy with artist Sasha Ward.
The strategy aims to guide St Barnabas on the role of the arts in the built environment and landscape. It will:

Engage the hospice community in forming design ideas with artists through consultation, workshops and new media.
Show understanding of individual beliefs, lifestyle and culture.
Consider the colour palettes, signage, textiles, focal artworks, glazing and furniture design commission for key patient and visitor areas such as wayfinding pathways, main entrance, café, day centre and rotunda.
Involve local arts organisations such as Worthing Museum and Art Gallery through shared curation.
Give the hospice a clear way forward for ongoing arts projects during the building’s lifetime.

St Barnabas never charges patients and families for the care they receive, so the arts strategy examines sourcing external funding opportunities from organisations such as the Arts Council of England. It will also manage art and design procurement and all of the art installation, to help maintain budgets.

Belinda Holden comments, ‘St Barnabas is a space that has to work hard both on a clinical and emotional level. People are grappling with a complex range of needs as patients, carers and loved ones. The arts can help to create a place that welcomes and says “we will look after you”.