slow media
We work with arts and mental health groups to create 'slow media' pieces for patient wellbeing and support hospital staff through contemplative arts workshop programmes.
Video introduction to our Slow Media project in Reading, UK.
The soundscapes of hospitals are a colossal disjuncture from the comforting and familiar surroundings of everyday life. The sounds of monitors and machines, fellow patients, unfamiliar medical terms, the activities of clinical staff and the absence of familiar routines and diurnal rhythms, makes the environment quite alien. In addressing this, the project aims to anchor patients in the familiarity of local scenes and everyday sounds embedded within slow film and music. In-patients can also experience a lack of personal control over their environment and their own bodies. So, in exercising choice over their listening and viewing, patients gain greater agency over their environment.​
Slow Media
The slow media pieces have been created by local mental health support groups, guided by experienced community artists. The project was funded by the Arts Council and Real Time Video. Organisations backing the project include the ICU at Royal Berkshire NHS Trust, ‘Open Mind’ creative multimedia project for people recovering from mental ill-health and Nature Nurture CIC. The project has also been working with local established and emerging artists and a volunteer intern from Oxford Brookes Fine Art department to develop the slow media pieces.
You can experience the pieces on Vimeo here.
