An innovative arts project is helping to boost the care offered by Perth Royal Infirmary’s award-winning Cornhill Macmillan Centre.
The centre was built after a massive fundraising drive and provides vital support to people with cancer and long-term illness.
And it is now making full use of the expertise of the Tayside Healthcare Arts Trust (THAT), which has been working with patients over the past 10 weeks to create a range of ceramics.
The programme was developed for community and day care settings and is part of a six-month artist placement for people living with cancer and life-limiting illness.
It is designed to encourage people affected by health issues to explore and develop their creativity and celebrate their abilities and talents.
Lead artist Fran Marquis and volunteer artist Annette McBride have been working with the support of the Cornhill staff and volunteers to encourage and support each participant in developing and designing an individual clay art work.
Fran said: “This process of working is very closely linked to my own practice as a ceramic artist and it has been tremendous to have been able to share some of these skills with the group and to see them respond so enthusiastically.”
Marion McLagan, of Cornhill Day Services, said: “This programme has been a great initiative for all the participants and introduced a new therapeutic area of interest that patients, volunteers and staff have really enjoyed.
“We are really pleased with what we have achieved for our patients and we are looking forward to developing further programme opportunities over the next six months.”
THAT arts development officer Karine Neill added: “This is the first phase of the artist placement at Cornhill and this programme has offered Fran the opportunity to get to know the patients, staff and volunteers in Day Services.
“The participants have been extremely positive and keen to learn the new clay techniques and there has been a great sense of working together to achieve some lovely artworks.”