Our Story
Inscape began in 2015 with a pilot project at the Royal Hobart Hospital, using art and music to support older patients, many with dementia or delirium.
The results were profound - patients became more engaged, staff morale improved and families connected in new ways.
The project’s success, published and internationally recognised, laid the foundation for what Inscape is today.
In 2015, a 6-month pilot Arts Health project was successfully implemented at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) in Southern Tasmania.
It took place on the Acute Older Person’s Unit (AOPU) where older people with acute illness, including many with dementia and delirium are cared for. The pilot aimed to improve the experience of older people, their family, carers and staff through engagement in art activities, including music, visual arts, participatory art making and storytelling.
An evaluation was implemented in partnership with Dr. Karen Ford, ADON Research and Practice Development, RHH and was published in the International Journal of Older Persons Nursing.
This paper received the journal’s Award for Outstanding Scholarly Contribution to Gerontological Nursing Practice in 2018.
The pilot was made possible by a bequest from Anne Dawborn. It led to the founding of the Arts Health organisation, Inscape Tasmania, still going today.
Inscape has since developed its programs to meet the needs of patients and staff throughout the entire hospital. A team of musicians and artists are contracted for
artist residencies
sessional work offering music and artmaking at the bedside
illustrative work capturing patient’s stories, and
public musical performances.
Inscape is committed to supporting artists to work in health care with regular professional development and mentoring. Inscape also contributes to research, evaluation, and offers education to health care staff about the value of arts in health settings.
Our Impact Since 2015
*
Created over 220 Life-Scape artworks, personally illustrated for patients and gifted to them and their families.
*
Delivered regular education sessions on arts and health for staff and community groups.
*
Presented weekly live music performances by professional artists in public hospital spaces.
*
Reached around 30 patients weekly through personalised bedside musical visits at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
*
Launched the Care Through Creativity residency, with three visual artists embedded in hospital wards.
*
Supports two annual artist residencies at the Community Rehabilitation Unit, Repat Centre.
*
Maintains ongoing artist residencies at the Roy Fagan Centre and New Norfolk District Hospital.
*
Employs a dedicated Arts Health Facilitator to guide, support and mentor the creative team.
*
Operates with strong governance from a skilled voluntary board and part-time administrator.
The Anne Dawborn Bequest
Anne Dawborn graduated as an Occupational Therapist in 1953, beginning her career at the Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne, before travelling to Canada via the UK and New York to work at the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital in Ontario.
Returning to Australia several years later, Anne worked at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and became Head of the Occupational Therapy Department.
Anne also trained and worked as a primary school teacher, bringing her creativity into every lesson. Anne developed a lifelong love of drawing, sketching and painting in water and oils. She was a member of various Art Societies and exhibited in galleries around Melbourne.
Anne believed in the therapeutic nature of engaging in the arts, in any form, and facilitated others to be creative in her role as Occupational Therapist, Teacher, relative and friend. Anne passed away in 2013.
Thanks to her legacy, a pilot arts-in-health project was initiated at the Royal Hobart Hospital that led to establishing Inscape Tas.