Publish date: 6 August 2024
Art exhibition opens at Cramlington’s new NPC Northumbria Way GP surgery
Northumbria Primary Care has announced the opening of an art exhibition at its new, state-of-the-art NPC Northumbria Way GP surgery. Featuring works created by local participants, the exhibition has been organised by Northumbria Healthcare’s Bright Charity and will be on display for six months.
Six participants took part in artist-led workshops held towards the end of 2023 and early 2024. These workshops aimed to create artwork that would enhance the environment for patients and staff. The theme chosen for the exhibition was nature, which prompted discussions and memories, particularly of the iconic Sycamore Gap, recently noted in the news following its felling.
Participants brought various items for inspiration, such as plants, leaves, photographs, and logs, and experimented with different art techniques including collage, printmaking, painting, and drawing.
The project was supported by Assura and organised by Bright Charity, which is known for its Healing Arts programme that aims to enhance healthcare environments through art.
NPC Northumbria Way opened its doors in June 2024, following a relocation from the previous Brockwell Medical Group site. This move comes six months after the practice joined Northumbria Primary Care.
Janet Bell, project manager at Northumbria Primary Care, said: "We are really pleased to present these artworks at our new GP surgery. The pieces add a touch of tranquillity and beauty to the space, creating a calming space that benefits everyone who visits.
“When deciding how we can make our new space welcoming to visitors, it was important to us that we worked with our local community. Bright Charity has done a brilliant job in helping us do that.”
Jordan Dent, an artist involved in the project, said: "It was a really interesting project to be a part of and it’s exciting to see our work displayed on the walls.
“By adding art that reflects the local environment to the surgery, we hope to make it a more comfortable and warmer environment for patients and staff. It’s been a really fun project to be a part of.”
Katie Dawson, Healing Arts programme manager at Bright Charity, said: "Our Healing Arts programme is designed to create engaging spaces within healthcare settings. This exhibition demonstrates the positive impact art can have on wellbeing and community spirit. We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to this project, including all the artists, Assura and Northumbria Primary Care."
A new display by the same group is planned for 2025.
Media contact
Christopher Magee
Marketing and communications officer
christopher.magee@northumbria-healthcare.nhs.uk