Eclectic Projects Making Room Nicole Morris 1 March 2024 – 1 March 2026 Back IMG_0944 Location Gallery Access Making Room is a studio space for people living with mental illness in both clinical and community settings. The project, led by Artist Nicole Morris, commenced in March 2024 with a pilot series of workshops in Lambeth Hospital’s Leo ward, an acute unit for men experiencing mental illness. Since September 2024, Making Room has been based at Maudsley Hospital. Here we have been situated on Lucas ward, Jim Birley Unit, Ruskin ward and Eileen Skellern 1; Acute and Psychiatric Intensive Care Wards for women. In the New Year we will be working from the Studio at the Drawing Room with service users who are currently based in the community. Sessions invite service users to try out new activities and use different mediums in a non- judgmental, safe space. Some people are keen to try everything whilst others are happy to explore one new idea or material. Being together and making alongside and in collaboration, through drawing, poetry, paint, clay, print and collage, in a space that nurtures collective joy. In each session we share work made and celebrate achievements with a drink and snack together. Outcomes have been displayed throughout the wards, Making Room in an institutional space for a studio to exist. In October 2024, we hosted a Making Room for Mental Health Networking Event, which invited local Art and Mental Health organisations to come together to share practice and resources. Following this event we will collate a map of local organisations for service users to access. This two-year project will continue to work closely with South London Maudsley Hospital throughout 2025, developing and researching progressive ways that art practice and mental health care services can intersect. Nicole’s previous project: Drawing Act I – Drawing Room worked closely with women from The Bridge and Southwark Women’s Space- two spaces that support the mental health and wellbeing of local women. Nicole Morris is an artist working in textiles and film across exhibition, learning and community contexts. Recent projects include: Filling Gaps, Mind in Camden and Foundling Museum (2024); Resist, Coborn Centre Adolescent Mental Health (2024); Navigating My Sea, Her Centre, Solace and National Maritime Museum (2020-2024); Making in Isolation, together, [ SPACE ] commissions, London (2020). Recent exhibitions include: , Algeciras (2024), , Asociación AlculturaLost MothersDrawing Biennial, Drawing Room, London (2024, 2021), Discoveries V, Fiumano Clase, London (2024); Dear World, Wellcome Centre for Neuroimaging commission, UCL, London (2020); Survey, G39, Cardiff; Bluecoat, Liverpool; Baltic, Gateshead and Jerwood, London (2018-19). Thank you to all involved: Service Users & Staff, Leo Ward, Lambeth Hospital Deirdre McGale, Apprentice Occupational Therapist Tannia Culqui Calderon, Senior Occupational Therapist Carole Hardy, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist and Southwark, Addictions & Central Services Operational Directorate Sara Holt, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist- Southwark Community Service Users & Staff, Lucas Ward, Maudsley Hospital Leila Seeley, Activity Coordinator Service Users & Staff, Jim Birley Unit, Maudsley Hospital Rhiannon Eastwood, Occupational Therapist Service Users & Staff, Ruskin Ward, Maudsley Hospital Jillian Slee, Occupational Therapist Service Users & Staff, Eilleen Skellern 1 Ward, Maudsley Hospital Rob Rathouse, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist Nicole Morris, Artist Asha Fontenelle, Artist Daphne Greca, Kings College Hospital Volunteer Mary Doyle, Co-Director, Drawing Room Betsy Dadd, Learning Curator, Drawing Room Will Nichols, Workshop Assistant, Drawing Room Srikanth Jeyaparam, Workshop Assistant, Drawing Room Genevieve Miller, Learning Coordinator, Drawing Room Generously supported by Chandrika Baji Pathak Scrapbook I just want the joy to continue Service User, Leo Ward, Lambeth Hospital It’s much more beautiful than I remembered Service User, Lucas Ward So much has happened in such a short period, we have gone from 0-60 in days. Occupational Therapist, Leo Ward, Lambeth Hospital I’ve put my collage up beside my bed and I love waking up every morning to look at it. Service User, Lucas Ward I want to journal forever. Service User, Leo Ward, Lambeth Hospital The sessions have supported service users to create artworks through which they have been able to express their creativity and articulate things that are of importance to them… you have created a sense of community within the sessions where service users can celebrate and support one another despite often not choosing to be in hospital or together as such.’ Lead Occupational Therapist, Lead Occupational Therapist, Maudsley Hospital I’ve put my collage up beside my bed and I love waking up every morning to look at it. Service User, Lucas Ward, Maudsley Hospital I’m happy even though it’s imperfect Service User, Jim Birley Unit Doing things together makes me stronger. Service User, Jim Birley Unit In this room, I have witnessed much laughter and a little sadness, that is understandable given the difficult circumstances so many of our service users have found themselves in. Lead Occupational Therapist, Maudsley Hospital I’m happy this reminded me of that memory in my childhood walking barefoot in the garden Service User, Ruskin Ward You helped me build confidence in this room. The words you used made me feel stronger Service User, Ruskin Ward ‘I’ve been looking forward to this all week’ Service User, Eilleen Skellern 1 Ward Supporting staff, whether they be OTs or members of the nursing team, have also been encouraged to participate, thus, breaking down the barriers between patients and staff, that are well known to exist, often to the detriment of service users, in institutions such as ours, where power imbalances are enshrined. Lead Occupational Therapist, Maudsley Hospital