PEOPLE far and wide are invited to bid on a selection of artwork from renowned local and national artists, to raise money for a Musgrove Park Hospital initiative.

The hospital’s art and design programme, Art for Life, supports the creation of high quality interior and exterior spaces within the hospital, achieving a calm environment for patients, visitors and staff.

It has worked in partnership with many local colleges and voluntary and third sector organisations to develop over 600 pieces of art, displayed at locations around the hospital.

It also organises exhibitions, relaxing musical performances and opportunities for participatory workshops for patients, visitors and staff.

Art for Life is holding the art auction, called Art on the Block, on Tuesday, May 24, from 6pm, at the hospital’s Beacon Centre, which provides cancer treatment to people living in Somerset and the surrounding area.

Tickets to attend the auction cost £8 and include canapes and drinks.

They are on sale at Musgrove’s general office, via email: artforlife@tst.nhs.uk or telephone 01823 342 488.

The auction will feature over 90 original artworks ranging from drawings, paintings and prints, to glass work, collages and sculptures.

See all the artworks online and make a bid ahead of the auction by clicking here. 

For the event, all artists featured were sent an identical primed A5 block and given licence to decide what type of original artwork to produce.

Thanks to the help of the event’s corporate sponsor, Foot Anstey LLP, all money raised will go towards Art for Life projects.

Lisa Harty, Art and Design Coordinator for Art for Life, encourages people to be part of this enjoyable event and be in with the chance of taking home a fabulous, original piece of art.

Lisa said: “We are very proud of this extremely successful event and appreciate the huge support we have had from artists who donate their work.

“I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to visit the website to view the magnificent art created by talented local, regional and national artists.

“We know it can be a difficult time for patients when they are in hospital, and for those close to them who visit; we hope the array of artwork evident around Musgrove goes a small way to improving people’s wellbeing during this time.

“Recently we have been working with the hospital’s care of the elderly wards and dementia team to use art in helping patients identify their own bay and bed through colour and imagery. Patients on Gould Ward have benefitted from this approach, and we now plan to roll it out in other areas.”

Art for Life is extremely grateful for the generous support of Foot Anstey LLP, First Manufacturing, Barnes, Hampton & Littlewood Auctioneers, Compass and Whitlock’s, and of course, all the contributing artists.