Publish date: 8 July 2020
Photographers in the spotlight as images adorn new hospital hoardings
Photographers from Berwick and the surrounding area now have their work displayed around where the town’s new multi-million-pound hospital is set to be built, on the site of the existing infirmary.
All 27 winning and shortlisted images from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s photography competition are being showcased on the hoardings surrounding what will become the construction area, if planning permission is granted.
The display comes a month after the trust submitted a planning application to Northumberland County Council for the two-storey integrated hospital, which will accommodate all the existing services and Well Close Medical Group, and assured the community that the £25million earmarked for the development is still available.
Marion Dickson, executive director at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, who is leading the Berwick redevelopment project, said: “It’s fantastic to see the images adorn the hoardings where Berwick’s new hospital is set to be built – they look stunning and our staff love them.
“From the outset we really wanted to involve local residents in this process and we hope the selected photographers are pleased to see their work in the spotlight, what talent we have in our area.
“Following the submission of our planning application last month, this is another sign of us moving forward with our plans and we will keep the community up-to-date as things progress over the weeks and months ahead.”
The competition was organised by the trust’s Bright Northumbria charity as part of the organisation’s award-winning healing arts programme which uses art as a therapeutic medium to improve the hospital environment for patients, visitors and staff. It had two categories – iconic images of Berwick and local landscapes and coastlines.
More than 160 images were entered into the competition from a diverse mix of amateur and professional photographers. A panel of NHS staff were guided by master photographer Ikuko Tsuchiya to make the difficult decisions of selection. Ten winning images were selected and 17 short-listed.
Due to the variety of images, the trust wanted to be able to give all shortlisted photographers an opportunity to see their work on display. So, a second exhibition has been added, meaning all 27 images have gone on display on the hoardings.
Selected photographs may also be exhibited in areas of the new hospital when completed.
The hospital’s modern design incorporates sustainability and efficiency in the final choice of materials and will embrace the latest technology in delivering the highest quality of care.
The target completion date for the new hospital is spring 2022.