YORKSHIRE CANCER CENTRE APPEAL
ARTS AND ENVIRONMENT PROJECT
ARTS PROJECT MANAGER OPPORTUNITY
The new St James’s Institute of Oncology, Bexley Wing at St James’s University
Hospital opened in December 2007. It provides leading edge cancer services
within a modern and specialised clinical environment. Importantly, we also aim to
provide a welcoming and positive environment throughout the building for
patients, staff and visitors. To this end, an integral part of the Yorkshire Cancer
Centre Appeal has been to fund environmental and arts projects “that uplift,
soothe and heal patients”.
The quality of the initial artwork commissions for the Wing has raised
expectations of staff, visitors and patients. The Arts Steering Group has identified
three projects which will build on this initial success, and for which funding is
available. Together, they will contribute to enhancing the patient experience,
improving dull and drab areas, and creating a lively and interactive environment.
We need project management support to shape and implement these new
initiatives. We are looking for someone with experience of developing and
implementing project proposals and commissioning artists; experience in arts
curation is desirable. The successful applicant will deliver commissions which
contribute to the existing high quality physical presence of the arts in the building.
The fee available is £6000, and it is envisaged that the work can be
accomplished within 24 days, over a 3 month period.
DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK
The project manager will be responsible for the implementation of the projects
described below:
1. Enhancing patient areas - High Dependency Unit (HDU)
This project will be developed following a direct request from staff members, with
whom the project manager will work closely. Staff find the HDU an anonymous
space to work in, with no external windows, and no means of telling whether it is
day or night. Patients, who may be heavily medicated, can be disorientated and
distressed in this high tech environment and visitors and staff find the department
confusing to orientate.
The aim is to provide a sensitive visual identity for the department. The exact
nature of what is provided will depend upon the artist commissioned for the
project, but is likely to include:
 use of large-scale vinyl wall graphics to provide recognisable and soothing
imagery.


a series of wall artworks to the corridor leading into the department
re-arrangement of the waiting area and use of colour to create feature
walls to help way-finding.
(Budget available: £14,000)
2. Improving dull and drab areas – use of prints and photographs
There are many anonymous, institutional areas in the building including wait
areas, day rooms, treatment rooms, recovery rooms and corridors. Pictures are
required to add colour and interest, alleviate the bareness of the walls, and
occupy patients and visitors. It is envisaged that a total of 110 prints will be
purchased. The project manager will liaise with the staff and departments
concerned, providing artistic direction, advice, supervision and professional
expertise to ensure the enhancement of these areas.
(Budget available: £9,000)
3. Creating a lively and interactive environment – Atrium Gallery
The Atrium Gallery is in a prime location and is seen by everyone who visits the
Wing. A contingency budget of £9,000 has been identified for a three year period
of Atrium exhibitions, to be enhanced by successful grant applications. The
project manager will provide artistic direction, advice, supervision and
professional expertise to ensure a diverse and thought-provoking programme of
exhibitions of contemporary art and craft, to change on a quarterly basis.
There have already been a number of performances within the Atrium on a trial
basis, and a small allocation (£3,000) has been made for a trial six-month
performance programme to test out the ongoing viability of the performance
project.
For both the exhibitions and the performance programme, the intention is to
secure external funding on an ongoing basis. The project manager will
programme these activities for a 12 month period, and will make grant
applications to ensure a dynamic future programme, and sustain momentum.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
Ability to present information clearly and concisely to a diverse group of people,
using appropriate media
Report writing skills
Ability to work collaboratively in a team with a wide range of people
Developing and implementing project proposals
Experience of commissioning artists
Experience in arts curation
Developing and submitting successful applications to funding bodies
Budget management
Educated to degree standard in a relevant discipline
Understanding of Health and Safety and Risk Assessment methods
Ability to work to deadlines
Ability to work independently
Excellent communication skills to a variety of users
Desirable:
Working with people in a healthcare setting
Taking account of the criteria specified applicants are invited to respond to this
brief by sending in the following:
•
A brief CV (no more than two pages)
•
A covering letter (again, no more than two pages) giving details of your
relevant previous experience and how it relates to this brief
•
The names and contact details of two referees who have knowledge of
your previous relevant work/ experience
The deadline for submissions is: 12 noon, Wednesday 25th November.
Applicants must be available for interview on 18th December.
Submissions should be sent, preferably by e-mail, for the attention of:
david.fox@leedsth.nhs.uk
or by post to:
David A. Fox
General Manager
St James's Institute of Oncology
Bexley Wing
St James's University Hospital
Leeds LS9 7TF
For further information about the work involved, and more general information
about the Arts and Environment project please contact Paul Stones, Arts
Development Officer, 0113 392 3941 paul.stones@leedsth.nhs.uk or David Fox
on 0113 2068636.