Artist to create large-scale mural for new Cambridge cancer hospital

The mural is part of a series of art projects for the site

A large-scale sculpture made out of locally sourced clay has been commissioned for the new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH).

Artist Ivan Morison is working with patients and staff to design The Welcome using clay from the East of England’s clay pits for the foyer of the new hospital.

It is the first of several art commissions for the site that will aim to help patients, staff and visitors sit, pause and reflect.

“I want to create something that speaks to nature and to deep time — something that helps people feel connected, grounded and welcomed,” Ivan said.

“The work aims to be timeless and to create a strong sense of identity as you enter the building.”

What is the artwork?

The artwork will be made using traditional clays combined with natural glazes developed through patient and staff workshops.

It will form part of an exhibition space that supports CCRH’s cultural programme, enabling people to engage with the hospital’s research.

“The Welcome responds to what people have told us they value in hospital environments — spaces that feel calm, grounding and supportive, and artworks that people can relate to in their own way,” Ellen Nowak, arts programme manager at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), said.

“It reflects our ambition for the entrance area to be a place of genuine welcome, care and connection from the moment people arrive at the hospital.”

Ivan has been running a series of workshops with people who have lived experience of cancer care, exploring local clays and natural materials and inviting participants to contribute directly to the development of the artwork’s final material language.

The commission – funded with help from local authorities – aims to show how CUH is using creative engagement with patients and staff to explore how the design of the hospital can actively support the exceptional quality of care delivered within it.

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