Royal Infirmary Arts Committee
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, University Hospital
Division, NHS Lothian
TERMS
The Royal Infirmary Arts Committee operates as a voluntary committee within the
structure of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, University Hospital Division, NHS
Lothian. The Royal Infirmary Arts Committee’s mission is to enable patients and staff of
the Royal Infirmary to participate in and experience a varied programme of permanent and
temporary arts projects. Projects are devised to engage staff and patients as well as to
enhance the hospital environment.
A. Aims and Objectives
The Arts Committee’s strategic aims are to:
o Promote close working relationships between artists, patients and staff.
o Increase the range and quality of opportunity in the arts and use of the arts within the
hospital.
o Create opportunities for research and innovation in quality arts programming within
the specific healthcare context.
o Celebrate the hospital's cultural relationship with the city and surrounding
community.
o De-institutionalize the hospital environment.
o De-mystify the experience of visiting the hospital for patients and visitors.
o Generate links with other cultural institutions within the city.
The Royal Infirmary Arts Programme will achieve these aims by:
a. Supporting arts practise that reinforces the vision and strategic aims of the Arts
Committee.
o planning, development and implementation of programmes that are of high artistic
quality
o recruitment and selection of artists that underpins quality practice.
b. Arts programming and commissioning that increases the range of arts opportunities
relevant to enhancing the quality of care and the healthcare environment.
o arts programming that is relevant to the interests, needs and potential of patients,
staff and visitors.
o arts commissioning which supports a sense of identity, place, orientation and
quality.
o placement of arts which supports the interests of the hospital population and sense
of place.
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c. Partnership working with Arts Agencies.
o work with Artlink and Gingko Projects Ltd.
B. Powers
The following powers may be used by the committee provided that they are used to
promote the aims and objectives.
Committee members with agreement from the Chair, have:
i Power to invite and receive contributions.
ii Power to raise funds.
iii Power to commission specialists for projects as necessary for promoting the Aims and
Objectives of the Committee.
iv Power to cooperate with other charities, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities who
share the Aims and Objectives and seek to achieve the Aims and Objectives of the
Arts Committee as well as the wider Aims and Objectives of NHS Lothian to
exchange information and advice with them.
v Power to establish any advisory committees necessary.
vi Power to do all other things necessary for the achievement of the Aims and Objectives
of the Arts Committee.
C. Finance
The Arts Committee has two accounts within the Finance Department of NHS Lothian,
University Hospitals Division. These accounts are managed by the Finance Department
and accessed by the Arts Committee Secretary for the Arts Committee held by the Finance
Department and managed by the Arts Committee Secretary. Statements and spreadsheets
are held by the Secretary and the Chair and are available to the committee on request.
1. The funds of the Arts Committee, including: all funds raised from grants, donations,
contributions and bequests, will be paid into accounts operated by the Finance
Department of NHS Lothian, University Hospitals Division with the agreement of the
Secretary.
2. The funds belonging to the Arts Committee will be used only to further the Aims and
Objectives of the Arts Committee.
D. Committee and Membership
Committee members will bring knowledge of the following: awareness of the working
hospital environment from its many perspectives, the strategic aims and objectives of
NHS Lothian, arts management, finance and administration skills.
Any person is eligible to become a member of the Arts Committee if he or she:
 Has an association with the Royal Infirmary either as a member of staff of NHS
Lothian, as a member of an associated organization, as a patient/family member or as a
member of the public working as a volunteer at the Royal Infirmary.
 is interested in promoting the Committee’s Aims and Objectives.
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 is proposed, nominated and seconded by the Arts Committee.
The Committee currently employs no staff. The Committee is supported by Artlink and
Gingko Projects Ltd. in the development, project management and implementation of
agreed projects.
E. Administration
1. The Royal Infirmary Arts Committee is managed by the Chair of the Arts Committee
with support from the Secretary, other committee members where appropriate and
Artlink and Ginkgo Projects Ltd. The Committee includes representation by staff,
patients and from associated hospital voluntary groups.
2. New committee members will be proposed and seconded by existing committee
members. All committee members will serve up to a maximum of three years
following which time, they may opt to be re-elected in the usual manner.
3. The Chair of the Arts Committee and the Secretary will serve up to a maximum of
three years, following which time, they may opt to be re-elected in the usual manner.
To elect a new Chair or Secretary, nominations must be proposed and voted by the
Arts Committee.
4. In principle decisions will be made by consensus by the Arts Committee. However,
where necessary, members will vote. The Chair is able to make the casting vote.
5. The Arts Committee meets approximately every two months. Minutes will be kept for
each meeting. An Agenda and the minutes of the previous meeting will be circulated
in advance.
6. The committee is supported by Artlink and Gingko Projects Ltd. in its work.
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