Welcome
Welcome to the UHBW #HospitalArts Audio Advent 2020
Although this year we are unable to have choirs and performers on site, we are pleased that this replacement online programme is accessible to everyone, at all times of the day and night. Open one window of this Audio Advent calendar each day, or several all at once (we won’t tell!)
Why does sound and music matter?
The UHBW Arts and Culture Programme was created in 2018 to improve the ‘aesthetic experience’ of being in hospital for staff, students, volunteers, visitors and patients. The Arts and Culture Strategy was approved by the Trust board in June 2019. The activities and opportunities included are deliberately multi-sensory and encompass all art forms, including art and design, creative writing, film, dance, food and horticulture. Addressing sound and acoustics, and providing for music, are key parts of the programme.
Art and culture activities align with the ‘five ways to wellbeing’ researched and developed by the New Economics Foundation. As you will see from the diverse themes that we explore this month, it is possible to follow all of the five ways to wellbeing through music.
Connect – Be active – Take notice – Learn – Give.
A bit of history
Before 2018 there was already a programme of Music Therapy for children and ad hoc music happening in the adult hospitals, particularly in the run up to Christmas. The first Audio Advent in 2018 brought together staff, patients, volunteers and visitors in a live programme of carol singing, choir singing, live instrumental music and readings on wards, in public spaces and outpatients waiting rooms. Musicians included pianists, guitar playing singer songwriters, and instrumental chamber groups representing students from UWE and Bristol University, as well as staff.
Since then, at St Micheal’s Hospital, consultants Beth, Ziju and colleagues have continued to present pop up ‘corridor concerts’ and more recently have made the use of outdoor space on the rooftops, sharing their passion for music, as you can see here.

Photo credit: Singing For Lung Health

Photo credit: Paul Blakemore
