Featuring:
Ade Adesina RSA, Sam Ainsley RSA, Kirstie Behrens, Elizabeth Blackadder RSA, Alfons Bytautas RSA, Steven Campbell, Gordon Cameron RSA, Andrew Cranston RSA (Elect), Millie Laing-Tate, Elspeth Lamb RSA, Abigail McLellan, Hannah Mooney, Jim Pattison RSA and Adrian Wiszniewski RSA
Breathing Space is 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.
Over the last thirty-five years, Art in Healthcare has developed a collection of modern and contemporary art, including drawing, painting, print and photography. Featuring work by artists at various stages of their career, including RSA Academicians and RSA associated artists. Those artists have a strong presence in the collection following an annual Art In Healthcare Purchase Prize award.
We display our large collection of contemporary and modern Scottish art in community, health and social care spaces, working with partners and service users to co-curate exhibitions. Our works are currently in spaces across Scotland, from Ayrshire to Orkney.
Our work aims to make health and social care settings less sterile and institutional, providing comfort, distraction and stimulation at a time when individuals can be experiencing anxiety and feeling vulnerable. Thousands of people experience the art collection on display in health, social care and community settings. Feedback tells us that the artwork helps patients feel cared for, staff feel valued, and visitors feel comforted.
It feels apt that all involved in this exhibition are celebrating significant milestones, with Park Gallery recently celebrating 25 years, AIH celebrating 35 years and RSA celebrating 200 years. All committed to supporting artists and creating opportunities for people to engage with art and creativity.
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. To take a breath and breathe. Alongside the opportunity to be creative and 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.
TAKING CREATIVE CARE | Ideas for looking after yourself
Art in Healthcare uses visual art to help people feel better, bringing art to people. Working towards making the benefits of art for health and wellbeing available to all.
Taking Creative Care is a project that has been led by artists Greer Pester and Ruby Pester. Over the past year, they hosted a series of therapeutic art workshops, listening and learning to how art can help people manage pain, find respite, relax and find joy in creativity.
Working together with people online and in-person, Greer and Ruby explored, played, made art, and shared how creativity can make us feel better.
An evolving creative tool kit has been developed, which includes 32 activities, that require little or no specialised art materials. A selection of 8 activities are displayed as part of the exhibition have been co-designed and created by participants, art therapists, occupational therapists, mindfulness practitioners, unpaid carers and those living with long term health conditions across Scotland.
A film by Matt Robinson, featuring artists Greer and Ruby (14 mins) demonstrating each of the activity. Inviting people to be inspired and creative, whilst looking at the exhibition, the surrounding museum and park.
RSA200: Celebrating Together
Throughout 2026 the Royal Scottish Academy, the oldest artist-run institution in Scotland, is celebrating its 200th birthday. RSA200: Celebrating Together is a major partnership project involving more than 100 partners. Cultural organisations across Scotland and beyond are coming together to celebrate two centuries of Scottish art and architecture. Exhibitions, performances, talks and special events are being led by partners in museums, galleries, universities and community spaces throughout the year.
Find out more: royalscottishacademy.org
29 August 2026 by
Margaret McCormick