Live Arts in Public

Currently, Live Arts in Public in conjunction with Scrimshaw Projects is leading Present Alignment / Dances for Multiple People, a pilot project of experimental dance workshops with older people attending the Paisley Royal Alexandria Hospital, funded by a Culture, Heritage and Events Fund award from Renfrewshire Council.

Live Arts in Public was initiated by Steven Anderson following a commission awarded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Improvement, to develop and manage a programme of performance events taking place within four hospitals; the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, New Victoria Hospital, New Stobhill Hospital and Paisley Royal Alexandra Hospital. This built upon the established Animating Public Spaces programme of performances and exhibitions.

Live Arts in Public programmed 44 performances over 4 hospital sites over 12 months in 2019/20. With a central aim for inclusivity with a contemporary, collaborative participation focus, the programme presented a number of firsts for programming in hospitals in Glasgow; the first contemporary dance work, the first artist residency and the first site specific dance performance with music composed specifically for the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

The programme developed new partnerships with a number of artists and art organisations including, dance artist Daniel Navarro Lorenzo, contemporary performance maker Althea Young, experimental improvised music group Mhenwhar Huws, the Scottish National Youth Dance Company, Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, The Glasgow MOD, Care for a Ceilidh, Fèis Paislig. The programme continued to work with partner organisations whose well loved regular performances provided the core of the performance schedule including NHSGGC Staff Choir, Piano City Glasgow, City Voice Choir, Govan Salvation Army Band and Choirs, Michael Brawley Big Band, Dunbartonshire Concert Band, Croy Silver Band, Paisley Opera and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. An advisory board of senior NHSGGC health improvement staff and performing arts experts from across Glasgow and Paisley was formed to provide support in planning and programming.

photos: left, Althea Young, centre, Mhenwhar Huws, right, Daniel Navarro Lorenzo