Barts and the London Arts is a new creative enquiry initiative which was launched by Professor Arundi Mahendran on 5-6th May 2022 with an art exhibition around the theme of ‘Self-care in Healthcare’ in the Old Library of the Garrod Building, Whitechapel. More than 60 pieces of artwork including paintings, sculpture, carved wood, stitched panels, crocheted animals, musical composition, painted vinyl records, and photographs were displayed. The artworks represented six diverse projects as well as including individual submissions in response to our call for artwork across students, staff and patients.

The projects were:

• Art from the 2021 FMD Stepping Stones transition programme for incoming students

• Creative Arts Student Selected Component 

• GP placement student assessments 

• Roy Alexander Briggs (GP) Prize 

• A Colombian participatory arts-based project exploring adolescent mental health during the pandemic 

• Under and Over: recording hand and arm function- a new hand and arm rehabilitation tool for people with multiple sclerosis.

The exhibition and reception were warmly received with all institutes of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry being represented in the artworks and attendance. A celebratory meeting space was created bringing together students, professional and estate staff, families, academics and clinicians.