Well, my friends, I am no longer employed by the NHS. Redundancy was not unexpected since the post of Healing Arts Manager, at least on paper, is considered a luxury. Erroneously.
In practice, my days were pretty full-on working in the Property Development Department with the M25 as a major travail trail. I can rest easy now, though, because having:
- created a colour palette (with considerable advice and assistance from Akzonobel and inspiration from Bernay Laity)
- set up Healing Arts Forums in advance
- facilitated much of the design for the move to HQ and
- put together the artist interview and shortlisting process for the 24/7 Assessment and Treatment programme –
– I have left the Trust in good shape, art and design-wise. Shame I won’t get to work on the new hospital with any of the marvellous artists I met. Shame, also, that their involvement was so suddenly postponed. Who knows, though, there are probably many other schemes that await us.
So – Amanda Winfield, Walter Bailey, Juri Nishi, Sam & Will Boex, Impact Art and Sarah Jane Daniels – I wish you all exciting and fulfilling future projects and look forward to meeting you again before too long.
(Please see Art category for database of artists and arts organisations I met over three years with the Trust.)
HOWEVER – and it is a big Frankie Howerd style HOWEVER – I am heading towards a wonderful new horizon on a journey that started 12 June when long time pal Susie Twist and I set off for Ecuador and – the Galapagos Islands. First Ecuador and the Equator . . .
Susie, a native Scouser and longtime resident of Manchester is posturing North of the line – and I, a softie from Surrey on the South. Not as exotic or hot as we assumed the equator would be. A bit damp, in fact . . .
More soon – Galapagos just so heavenly I have to take a rest before going on . . .
Lynne McVernon 
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