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 "If you posed the question, most people would acknowledge that listening to music can soothe the soul, gazing at a fine painting or sculpture can stimulate the senses, attending the theatre can distract from a bruising day, and dancing can sling off the doldrums. In short, the arts are good for you."
- GP Review, September 2004
Utilisation of the arts in healthcare is no longer viewed as an alternative approach; rather, it is increasingly seen as an essential part of holistic healthcare that encompasses medical treatments, therapy, medication, diet and exercise.
HealthArts at Melbourne Health began in February 2003, with a vision to create a visual and performing arts program that would become part of the fabric of the health service. It promotes the healing value of the arts, enriches the hospital environment and actively engages patients, families, visitors, staff and volunteers.
HealthArts projects include:
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VCA Performing Arts program – a partnership between the Victorian College of the Arts and The Royal Melbourne Hospital. VCA students perform each Wednesday lunchtime at the RMH City Campus and once a month at the RMH Royal Park Campus. The program showcases jazz singers, classical harpists and string quartets through to drummers and a cappella groups.
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Healing Threads – a collaborative project between RMH, VCA and the Victorian Tapestry Workshop. It includes an artist-in-residence, a staff photographic project and exhibition, and the making of a major tapestry depicting the life of RMH. Latest news on RMH Healing Threads project.
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Piano in Emergency Department – soothing tunes waft through Emergency, when off-duty staff and other volunteers play soothing piano pieces on a Yamaha piano donated by Allan’s Music, Kew. It has helped with relaxation and pain relief, and reduced anxiety of patients and their families in a stressful situation.
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Corpus Medicorum – formerly known as Corpus Medicum, the chamber orchestra of The Australian Doctors’ Orchestra was formed by RMH cardiothoracic surgeon Phillip Antippa in 2000. Corpus Medicorum – meaning body of doctors – performs challenging and popular chamber music recitals several times a year. Proceeds from concerts support patient care at RMH. Corpus Medicum
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Opera Therapy – an award-winning documentary screened on Storyline Australia SBS in 2005, about RMH Music Therapist Emma O’Brien’s opera project: a therapeutic journey of fourpatients living with cancer who wrote an opera based on their experiences, and performed by More Than Opera. A second opera project expands on the original Opera Therapy to include the history of cancer and medicine and the perspectives of people working in health care. Performances of the completed Opera Project 2006 will be held in late 2006. See also RMH Music Therapy program
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Diversionary Spaces – Perpetual Trustees has funded a number of diversionary spaces to benefit high dependency dementia patients in the Aged Care 1 Unit at RMH Royal Park Campus. Diversionary spaces cater for the special needs of this patient group and look at their overall wellbeing. The spaces have soothing colours, textured walls, home-style window furnishings and a small number of “everyday” experiences . . . such as a bus stop, kitchen setting, hairdresser’s waiting room and tool shed. These help patients make the transition from home to residential care and improve their experiences in our care.
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Big Trees Project – a unique artistic opportunity for 13 young people recovering from mental illness. In collaboration with professional sculptor and photographer, Ben Wrigley, the young people sculpted and transformed several trees which had to be felled at ORYGEN Youth Health site in Parkville into 14 beautifully crafted, large-scale animal designs. The sculptures are now gateway entrances at ORYGEN Youth Health’s two sites at Parkville and Footscray, which provide mental health services to young people aged 15 to 24 years.
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