Evaluating Didcot's Brilliant

Didcot’s Brilliant was an Artist in Residence programme at Didcot Community Hospital, funded by the National Lottery through Oxford Health Charity, to provide therapeutic arts sessions, community connections and a series of murals and artistic inventions in the hospital and in the public realm across Didcot.

Over the last year, residents in Didcot were invited to participate in an arts project that aims to celebrate ‘what makes Didcot brilliant’ with Artist-in-Residence, Dionne Freeman, who has worked with people of all ages and abilities in the town to co-produce artwork that will be displayed in the grounds of Didcot hospital and in the underpass at Didcot station. 

“Many of our patients are older adults and may have longer stays in hospital so it is important that we have activities on our wards to keep them engaged. The feedback we receive is always very positive and many want to keep being creative once they have left hospital care. This project has helped them to do that and also build community engagement around the hospital which is a wonderful result.”

Angela Conlan, Project lead at Oxford Health Arts Partnership

The artist facilitator has worked in Didcot one day per week, with patients and staff at the local community hospital, with young people (out of school hours) as well as holding outreach sessions with other local groups e.g. mother and baby, dementia support groups. The project is built on partnerships across the community between Oxford Health Arts Partnership, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, South Oxfordshire District Council's Wellbeing Team, The Cornerstone Arts Centre, Didcot Community Hospital, Didcot Railway Station, Sustainable Didcot and the Train Youth Club.

The aim of the Community Hospital Arts Project, was to engage staff and patients in painting from the window and connect them with the wider community (arts groups, schools, and community organisations). They were able to create stunning artworks for the hospital and to display to the public at Didcot Train Station.

“As part of my work I have reached out to the mental health teams at Oxford Health to identify people who have experienced mental health difficulties. Helping them to connect and engage with meaningful community activities will greatly benefit their wellbeing, help them to live well independently and provide a lasting legacy for the project.”

Dionne Freeman, Artist-in-Residence

In total, there were  57 workshops, 541 participants  (250 of whom were patients at the hospital) in 9 venues and included 11 community groups, with some heart-warming stories and impacts.

We are excited to share this new evaluation of the whole project, written by Abigail Brown, Arts Development Officer for South Oxfordshire District Council.  The evaluation endeavours to capture the success of the project and explores the evidence of need for a longer term project to celebrate and connect our community in Didcot.  The focus on improving well being of patients, staff, visitors and the wider community network is central to the paper, just as it is for the project itself.