National Arts in Hospitals Guidance (UK)

The National Arts in Hospitals Guidance is the first comprehensive resource for establishing and managing hospital arts programmes across the UK. Using a toolkit approach, it provides an evidence-based framework for embedding high-quality arts interventions in every hospital to improve patient care and staff wellbeing.

The Guidance is an initiative of the National Arts in Hospitals Network (NAHN), which represents over 100 NHS hospitals through its national network. It was developed in collaboration with creative health consultant Jane Willis, and funded by Arts Council England.

The toolkit comprises 6 comprehensive guidance documents, 16 inspirational case studies from UK hospital arts programmes, and 14 practical tools and templates for immediate application. The resources cover six essential areas:

🔹Governance: Foundational management and funding guidance
🔹Strategy: Planning arts programmes aligned with NHS priorities
🔹Evaluation: Understanding value and impact through effective assessment
🔹Collection Management: Starting and developing hospital art collections
🔹Art and Environment: Integrating art into healthcare spaces
🔹Participatory Arts: Engaging patients and staff in creative activities

This practical suite of online resources is designed to support everyone involved in hospital arts from NHS staff and arts managers to health charities and estates teams.

Access the Guidance