Bexhill Hospital Aims For National Art Recognition

Service users at the Langford Centre in Bexhill on Sea are hoping their artistic talents will once again win them recognition and a prestigious national award. Following their success in the 2012 Koestler awards, the hospital is submitting an entry into the 2014 competition.

In November 2011, individuals within the hospital worked together to create a fabric version of Picasso’s famous painting, 'The Scream', for entry in the 2012 awards. The entry, which won the hospital a cash prize, was displayed in a London art gallery until it was sold for £300 to a restaurant operated by displaced youths in Anglesey. The prize money was invested in extra art and craft equipment, and patients will once again work as a team to decide the concept and bring it to completion for this year’s competition.

The Langford Centre has 50 beds in low secure and locked rehabilitation accommodation. It is part of the Glen Care Group, which is a specialist provider of low secure hospitals, locked rehabilitation hospitals, enhanced Residential services and Supported Living for detained and informal patients.

The Koestler Trust is the UK's best-known prison arts charity. It has been awarding, exhibiting and selling artworks by offenders, detainees and secure patients for more than 50 years, and its awards receive more than 8,000 entries a year - inspiring offenders to take part in the arts, work for achievement and transform their lives. The national exhibition attracts 20,000 visitors, showing the public the talent and potential of offenders and people in secure settings.

Vanessa Ling, Hospital Director at the Langford Centre, said: “Art can offer an outlet for often complex and confusing emotions, which service users may not necessarily be able to express verbally. It also fosters self awareness and confidence. We are proud of the excellent work being carried by the art group and wish them the very best of luck with this year’s competition entry.”