Winter Newsletter 2026
Dear All,
As we move towards the end of winter and start looking forward to spring, we would like to take a moment to share some updates and future plans.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who joined us at our festive event in December. This was a lovely way to round off the year and be reminded of the support and strength of our community.
This year is an especially meaningful one for us as it marks 35 years of Art in Healthcare and 10 years of our Room for Art workshops. We’re excited to be celebrating these milestones throughout the year – some details of which will be included in this newsletter.
Thank you to everyone that has been a part of our journey so far and stay tuned for more to come!
Best wishes,
Art in Healthcare
Image: Our Festive Event held at Coffee Saints, Edinburgh.
BIG GIVE | Arts for Impact
We are delighted to have been accepted to take part in the Big Give: Arts for Impact Fundraising campaign taking place from the 17th to the 24th of March. This is the third year that we are taking part in the campaign which provides match funding, meaning that every donation made to the campaign is DOUBLED, giving it twice the impact. Last year, the £5,000 we raised made a significant contribution to our charity and we are hoping to do the same this year.
The purpose of this campaign is to raise funds to allow us to continue to offer our creative workshops, working with over 250+ adults across Scotland per year who would not otherwise access creative opportunities. With your help, we can continue this important work.
Back by popular demand, we are kicking the campaign off on the 17th of March with a Fundraising Quiz hosted by Gooses Quizzes and taking place at Brewhemia, Edinburgh from 7:30-9:30pm. This promises to be a fun night, raising money for a worthy cause. To find out more and purchase tickets, please click the following link:
We’re so grateful for your continued support and can’t wait to share our live campaign with you.
Image: Last year’s Fundraising Quiz hosted by Gooses Quizzes at Brewhemia, Edinburgh.
CARING FOR THE COLLECTION | Welcome Mina!
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland, Caring for the Collection is a project that focuses on Art in Healthcare’s art collection, enabling us to undertake a programme of maintenance and conservation of artworks currently in our art store.
The support hosts two technical roles dedicated to working with collection artworks and improving how they are stored safely. In November, we shared news of Giulia, who was appointed Technician. We are delighted to share that Mina Brennan, has joined the team in the role of Collection Technician Apprentice. In addition to gaining hands on experience working with the collection, Mina will gain a Museum and Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship [SCQF level 7] qualification alongside a mentorship. We are very grateful for the support that Museum and Galleries Scotland have provided and the support that they will offer Mina.
As part of this project, and to celebrate Art in Healthcare’s 35th Anniversary, Mina has launched a blog exploring 35 works from the Art in Healthcare Collection and her discoveries from her apprenticeship – have a read of the first one here (https://www.artinhealthcare.org.uk/2026/01/20/caring-for-the-collection-blog-1-the-herring-quine-graham-fyfe-1997/) .
Caring for the Collection is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to dedicate time to improve the condition of our artworks currently in our store, so that they will be able to be displayed in health and social care settings across Scotland.
Museum and Galleries Scotland, Museum & Galleries Technician Modern Apprenticeship is supported by Museums Galleries Scotland provider of the apprenticeship, mentor, and provision of SCQF level 7.
Image: Mina standing in front of The Herring Quine by Graham Fyfe from the Art in Healthcare Collection
RSA 200 | Celebrating Together
We are delighted to be part of two exhibitions as part of RSA bicentenary celebrations this year, offering the opportunity to celebrate artworks from our collection, bringing together artworks by RSA Academicians, New Contemporaries and Award Winners form the Art In Healthcare Collection spanning the last 35 years.
RSA 200 | Art for Health is presented by The Scottish Arts in Healthcare Collective, collaborating for the first time. The collective includes Artlink Central (NHS Forth Valley), Grampian Hospitals Art Trust (NHS Grampian), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, OutPost Arts (NHS Dumfries & Galloway), Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (NHS Tayside), Tonic Arts (NHS Lothian Charity) and Art in Healthcare (Scotland).
Art for Health are two exhibitions that will be presented concurrently at major hospital sites, celebrating the benefits of arts in health and the RSA-associated artists represented in healthcare collections across Scotland. Touring major hospital sites, highlighting the powerful contribution that artists have made to the wellbeing of people across Scotland.
The exhibition tour will launch at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Bellfield Centre, Stirling and will tour to Forth Valley Royal Hospital; New Victoria Hospital; Inverclyde Royal Hospital; Aberdeen Royal Infirmary; Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary and Galloway Community Hospital.
Find out more by visiting: https://www.royalscottishacademy.org/partners/130
Image: ‘Big Wind’ (1992) by James Morrison RSA from the Art in Healthcare Collection.
Breathing Space, an exhibition presented by The Park Gallery in partnership with Art in Healthcare will take place from 29 August – 18 October 2026.
An exhibition featuring a selection of artworks from the Art in Healthcare Collection, celebrating a commitment to improving lives through engaging with art and creativity.
The Park Gallery, has been an oasis for visitors for the past twenty-five years, offering the opportunity to learn, be challenged, and to view exhibitions staged with passion and care.
Working in collaboration with Art in Healthcare and their art collection provides an exceptional opportunity to engage audiences and provide moments of joy with art. Visitors are invited to take time with the artworks, alongside the opportunity to explore the historic setting of the house and surrounding grounds of Callendar Park. Encouraging new experiences, perspectives and ways of seeing that contribute positively to health and wellbeing.
Image: ‘The Edge of the City’ (1980) by Gordon Cameron RSA from the Art in Healthcare Collection.
ROOM FOR ART | 10th Anniversary Exhibitions
2026 is a big year for our Room for Art workshops, which are turning 10 years old! To celebrate this incredible milestone, we will be holding two exhibitions.
The first is our Ten for Ten exhibition, ten artworks for ten years. This will be open to the public from the 23rd of March at WHALE Arts. This exhibition will showcase participant artworks and stories shared from across all six Room for Art groups.
A huge thank you to WHALE Arts for supporting our exhibition, and the Room for Art group which takes place in this venue each week.
Then, in October, we are celebrating with a bigger exhibition which is currently in the planning stages. Keep following to stay up to date with the news!
Art in Healthcare wouldn’t be the same without the wonderful group participants, lead artists, volunteers, venue staff, partners, and supporters. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Image: This image shows our Room for Art ‘Reuse, Renew’ exhibition last year, in March 2025, which took place in Out Of The Blue Drill Hall.
FUNDING | Agnes Hunter Trust
We are delighted to have received a grant from the Agnes Hunter Trust for our project ‘Taking Art Home’.
Taking Art Home provides online art workshops created with and for adults living with Long-COVID, and other long-term health conditions such as Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
This grant will support the national delivery of these online workshops which introduce participants to a range of creative techniques, materials and ways to creatively express themselves, supporting their health and wellbeing, and providing essential respite for those who may find it difficult to leave their home.
Inspired by our collection, the participants have been making and sharing art together, with wonderful artist, Georgie Fay.
Image: ‘Sweet Chestnut Leaf Hole’ by Andy Goldsworthy. This is one of the works from our collection which has been used as inspiration by the Taking Art Home participants.
FUNDRAISING | Become a Fundraising Champion
Would you be interested in becoming a Fundraising Champion for Art in Healthcare?
Your fundraising allows us to continue to offer creative workshops and to secure the future of the art collection for loan to health, social care and community facilities throughout Scotland. Your support will help improve health and wellbeing for individuals across Scotalnd through art and creativity.
There are lots of ways to raise funds, from a coffee morning to an art exhibition, signing up for a 10k or perhaps another personal challenge. Please do get in touch with us and let us know your plans. We may also be able to help with entry fees or provide modest prizes.
Find out more by visiting: https://www.artinhealthcare.org.uk/support-us/fundraise-for-us/
Image: Bria and Hugh who ran the Edinburgh Marathon, raising £521 for Art in Healthcare.
As always, thank you for your continued support!
19 February 2026 by
Amy Miles