The University Hospital Centre of Porto and the Soares dos Reis National Museum launched the collaborative project, Art and Health, with events in different areas around Santo António Hospital, involving its patients and their companions.
Focused on art’s capacity to minimize the impact of disease and contribute to the construction of a favourable environment, the project consolidates the partnership between the two neighbouring institutions and brings together University Hospital Centre of Porto professionals, its patients and their Museum companions, looking to solidify its exterior presence.
One of these events was the exhibition, Other Places, which took a set of photographs highlighting details of paintings and sculptures by artists such as António Soares dos Reis, Artur Loureiro, Aurélia de Souza, Henrique Pousão, José Malhoa, Marques de Oliveira and Silva Porto into different areas of the University Hospital Centre of Porto. The aim was for these images to enhance the space’s human feel and illustrate details of works conveying feelings of relaxation and well-being.
This partnership also led to the creation of a special discount ticket for University Hospital Centre of Porto patients and companions, with 50% off the admission price to the Soares dos Reis National Museum. Further results were the programming of activities for University Hospital Centre of Porto professionals, providing moments of leisure and relaxation that were stimulating and differentiated from their daily routine; as well as educational activities for patients in the paediatric service, continuing the aim of humanisation and education through art.
The project is sponsored by the Manuel António da Mota Foundation and has the institutional support of Círculo Dr. José de Figueiredo – Friends of Soares dos Reis National Museum.