Art in Healthcare

15/10/2026

Yesterday we were excited to deliver a Taking Creative Care workshop exploring the activities within our new resource / toolkit as part of our Breathing Spaces exhibition currently on at Park Gallery in Callendar House.

A playful workshop was led by artists Greer Pester and Ruby Pester using the ‘Taking Creative Care’ toolkit - a deck of cards and evolving resource which includes a series of 32 activities that have been co- developed with artists, art therapists, healthcare workers, and people living with long term health conditions over the past year. Through holding therapeutic art workshops, it explores how art can help people manage pain, find respite, joy, relaxation and resilience in creativity to improve wellbeing.

The workshop invited the public to try out some of the activities in the resource to get creative, responding to the artwork on display as well as the surrounding environment and grounds of Callander House.

Thanks to Callendar House Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) Falkirk Leisure and Culture and Reachout with Arts in Mind

14/10/2026

There is just over a week left to apply to be a trustee on our Board of Directors. We'd love to hear from you if you are interested in our work and have legal expertise.

We currently have a vacancy on our Board of Directors for an individual who can bring legal expertise.  You will be able to...Find out more

13/10/2026

Please join the Scottish Healthcare Collective and the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) for a free afternoon symposium event, on 9 November 2026, exploring the vital role of visual art collections and creative programmes in healthcare environments; accompanying the touring exhibition RSA200 | Art for Health.

On behalf of the Art for Health - Scottish Healthcare Collective, we're delighted to share news about an exciting free event:

💫 Art, Health and the Royal Scottish Academy

Join the Scottish Healthcare Collective and the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) for a free afternoon symposium event exploring the vital role of visual art collections and creative programmes in healthcare environments; accompanying the touring exhibition RSA200 | Art for Health.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Monday, 9 November 2026
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Includes networking from 3:10 PM)
📍 Location: Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, National Galleries Scotland, Edinburgh
🎟️ Cost: Free to attend (Refreshments provided)

Speakers Include:
⭐ Sandy Wood (Head of Collections, Royal Scottish Academy)
⭐ Jackie Sands (Strategic Arts and Health Development Coordinator, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde)
⭐ Kate Downie (Artist and RSA Academician)
⭐ Toby Paterson (Artist and RSA Academician)
⭐ Ade Adesina (Artist and RSA Academician)
⭐ Rowan Paton (Artist and RSA Award Winner)

Discover how artwork in healthcare environments transforms spaces and impacts physical and emotional wellbeing.

👉 Scan the QR code below or reserve your free spot via this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/art-health-and-the-royal-scottish-academy-tickets-2003160235187

Scottish Healthcare Collective: Tonic Arts (NHS Lothian Charity), Artlink Central (NHS Forth Valley), NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, OutPost Arts (NHS Dumfries & Galloway), Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (NHS Tayside), Grampian Hospitals Art Trust (NHS Grampian), and Art in Healthcare (Scotland)

10/10/2026

Thanks for the mention The Out of the Blue Drill Hall. We are excited to share our Room for Art anniversary with everyone as part of Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival

07/10/2026

As part of our 35th anniversary year trustees have been invited to develop fundraising events for Art in Healthcare. Andrea, our Vice-Chair has been working with Yoga Social Edinburgh to develop a Wellbeing Workshop on Sunday 29 November 2026, 2pm-5pm. All proceeds will be donated to Art in Healthcare, allowing us to continue to offer creative workshops to support health and wellbeing free at the point of delivery. If you'd like to attend, tickets can be booked through our shop:

Full price ticket for the Wellbeing Workshop at St Columba's Church Hall, 13 Upper Gray St, Edinburgh, EH9 1SN, on Sunday 29th November, 2pm -5pm.

06/10/2026

We'd love to see you at Callendar House on Wednesday 14 October 2026. Ruby and Greer Pester will be using the ‘Taking Creative Care’ toolkit, currently on display as part of the Breathing Space exhibition, as the starting point for a playful workshop. Free but booking is required, as detailed below.

Looking for a FREE way to entertain the kids during the October holidays?

Join us for a playful workshop led by Ruby and Greer Pester using the ‘Taking Creative Care’ toolkit currently on display as part of the Breathing Space exhibition. It is an evolving resource which includes a series of 32 activities which have been developed from holding therapeutic art workshops, exploring how art can help people manage pain, find respite, joy, relaxation and resilience in creativity to improve wellbeing.

Suitable for ages 8+, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Attendance is free, but you must register by emailing [email protected]

📅 Wed 14 Oct: 11:00 -13:00
📍 The Park Gallery, Callendar House
🎟️ Free but ticketed - email [email protected] to reserve your place

06/10/2026

As part of our 35th anniversary year Mina, our Collection Technician Apprentice, has been exploring our collection and sharing regular reflections on individual works. Recent blogs have focused on works by Helen Chadwick, Andrew Cranston and Andrew Mackenzie.

Welcome to the twenty-second blog post from the Collection Technicians. Andrew Mackenzie was born in the North-East of Scotland and studied at…

05/10/2026

It is brilliant to see works from the Art in Healthcare Collection touring Scotland as part of the Art for Health - Scottish Healthcare Collective's contribution to

05/10/2026

Over the past year, our technician and technical apprentice have been working on the refurbishment of our artwork storage facilities. Last week, the first stage of this project was realised! In the lead-up to the installation of the new shelving units, the artwork was carefully wrapped before moving it to safe storage. The old shelves were removed, and new shelves were installed. These new units not only increase capacity but improve the conditions in which the artworks are stored whilst they’re not on display. The photographs below show the art store before and after the improvements.

Huge thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland for funding this work. Thanks also to Luke Gregg for the fabrication support.

01/10/2026

We are excited to share some sneak peeks of the artworks created by our Creative Communities participants, volunteers and staff, which will be on full display in from 20-22 October, part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF)! There is a huge variety of materials and creative approaches on show, many of the artworks responding to the themes of '10 by 10' and 'reflections'. We hope to see you there!