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Art for Alder Hey in the Park: The Aquatic Therapy Pool

Deadline: April 28, 2014, 5:00 pm

The children, young people and clinical staff who use the existing Hydrotherapy Pool at Alder Hey Children's Hospital are keen to commission art for their new Aquatic Therapy Pool. 'Art for Alder Hey in the Park' is seeking an artist (or artists’ group) who will work with the consultation group of children and young people, and agreed hydrotherapy staff, as part of the process to commission the art. 

The Aquatic Therapy Pool is used for movement therapy for all ages of children and young people, so the artistic narrative and imagery needs to include elements that the staff can draw the attention of the young people to and the young people can focus on, and physically move or point or stretch towards. The imagery needs to address the interests of all ages including young children.

In line with the environmental ethos of the art programme, and the briefing set by the Aquatic Therapy Pool Consultation Group, we would like the art to be imaginative and

  • Reflect the natural aquatic world, and ‘bring the outside inside’.
  • Be colourful 
  • Include relaxing sound created for the environment. There is a suggestion that any decorated tiles in the water might have a ‘push button’ so that they will trigger sound.
  • Consider the opportunity for one of the young people to develop a special composition working with a musician or sound artist (There is a regular programme of live music within the hospital and we also employ a part time Music Therapist)
  • Address the walls (including doors) and ceiling – and one young person suggested projecting moving images of sea birds across the walls and ceiling

For more information please downloaded the attached brief.

Download Acquatic Therapy Artists Brief-1.pdf(348 KB)