Staff artwork brightens up Union House
CPFT staff working at Union House in Cambridge have seen their amazing artwork turned into a huge mural that both they and visitors can enjoy.
The art project was led by Service Manager Maggie Page, who wanted to do something to lift and support staff wellbeing through enriching the work environment. Maggie approached CPFT's Art Therapies Lead Kimberley Iyemere to share her vision for this mural. The aim was to enable "new connections between staff and support creativity in the workplace as working patterns shift back into the office after the isolation of Covid-19."
To develop Maggie’s vision for the project, Clio Edgington (art therapist and artist) set up The Watering Place project, a series of drop-in creative sessions for rest, communication and relaxation for staff at Union House. Sessions ran from April to October 2022, growing to include service user participation.
From the breadth and variety of artwork made though these months and from contributions made in passing on a chalkboard that offered a weekly prompt, Clio went through numerous designs to compose a large mural. The Watering Place mural is created entirely with elements taken from staff work. Just as the variety of staff contributions create a robust team, so this painting is a thing made of many parts working together in multiple ways.
You can watch a short video on the art project here - some of the staff’s work and thoughts on the project are included in this four-minute film with sound.
CPFT is extremely grateful to Arts Council England for funding the materials and time that went into making this project, and to all those staff and service users who took part in so many ways.
