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08 June 2018

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust announces appointment of Dr Anna Farthing as arts programme director

Anna Farthing

Arts programme director is a new role which has been established by University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust to develop and implement a wide-ranging and high impact strategy incorporating diverse art forms from pictures to performance.

Responding to increasing evidence of the links between wellbeing, healthy lifestyles and engagement in creative and cultural activities, the programme will support the psychological and social needs of patients and healthcare professionals across the Trust's many sites, and enhance engagement with the wider civic community.

The new post has been funded on a fixed term basis for eighteen months by the Trust's charitable partners, Above & Beyond, and is accountable to the Trust's Chief Executive, Robert Woolley.

Dr Farthing will build partnerships with local, national and international organisations to develop and establish a programme of arts initiatives that the whole University Hospitals Bristol community can engage with, including staff and their families, as well as patients.

Anna Farthing says: "My doctorate is in culture rather than medicine, but as connections between the arts and health become increasingly evident, I am delighted to be able to contribute my expertise, and to work alongside healthcare professionals so that they may better address the needs of patients. I look forward to collaborating with partners that share similar values both in Bristol and across the UK, and to putting the spotlight on the strategic ambitions of the Trust."

Robert Woolley says: "I am grateful to Above & Beyond for their invaluable support of the Arts Programme and extremely pleased to have secured a director of the experience and standing of Dr Farthing to help us make our hospitals places of warm welcome and creative connection for the benefit of patients, staff and all who care about them."

Paul Kearney, Chief Executive of Above & Beyond, said: "The appointment of Anna Farthing will I am sure, make a positive difference to patient care, and improved environments at Bristol's city centre hospitals, which is at the heart of everything Above & Beyond do. We wish her well in the new post."


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