OUR HISTORY
Inscape Tas was initiated by the bequest of Anne Dawborn. Her niece Jacqui began a consultation with Royal Hobart Hospital staff and established a six-month pilot project, based on a community development approach.
In 2015, the pilot was successfully implemented on the Acute Older Person’s Unit that cared for older people with acute illness, including many with dementia and delirium. It 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.
This pilot was evaluated 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.
Inscape has developed its programs to meet the needs of patients and staff throughout the hospital. We now have up to 17 artists contracted for sessional work working bedside, in performances, residencies and projects. Inscape is committed to supporting artists to work in health care with regular professional development and mentoring. We also contribute to research, evaluation, and offer education to health care staff about the value of arts in health settings.
Currently Inscape has:
Completed a total of 210 Life-Scape illustrations all gifted to patients and their families.
Facilitated 67 education sessions for health staff/community groups.
Weekly public duo/solo performances in sites around Tasmanian Health Services-South.
Engaged an average of 30 participants in bedside musical visits each week.
Initiated ‘Care Through Creativity’ residency project with 3 visual artists working within the hospital, in 2021/22.
An arts-health facilitator providing support and mentoring.
Sound governance from a committed voluntary board, and part-time administrator.
Evaluation
In 2015, the Inscape program was evaluated with ethics approval and the results showed many benefits and positive outcomes for staff, patients and visitors.