by Susan Adams and Penny Hallas
A Private Land is an art-based research and development project, supported by Arts Council Wales and undertaken in collaboration with community groups, with a central theme of the links between emotional and environmental health. Its funded timeframe is February - October 2023, but it is expected that relationships and processes developed in this R&D phase will inform on-going projects.
How did the project start?
Artists Susan Adams and Penny Hallas share deep interest in inner and outer worlds: the intersections between the visible world and the realm of imagination. In searching for a collaborative project in which we could explore these concerns further, we were drawn to the former Mid Wales Hospital, Talgarth, Powys, Wales. After more than a century, its physical remains are falling into the final stages of dissolution and will most likely soon be demolished. But it is of historic importance to the local community and former patients and continues to be a site of intense and complex emotional resonance for many different communities and groups.
What are the main themes?
Our project references geographical and psychological territories and the nature of the boundaries that may both protect and / or restrict us. Where are we positioned in relation to boundaries: how much choice do we have and can past actions and decisions be reconsidered? Whose voices are heard and who is remembered? Whereas many other former hospitals (e.g. Ely or Whitchurch in Cardiff, Bethlem in London and Glenside in Bristol) have preserved memories and artefacts, patient voices and stories, we've noticed that it is particularly difficult to find accounts from the people who received treatment at Talgarth. So we have tried to enter imaginatively into the Talgarth site and the hidden stories it suggests, and we invite the voices of people who have experienced mental health issues there or do so currently in the community. Culminating in co-produced arts events/installations, we are trying to form new narratives in creative ways before both site and memories are lost to us.
Our project touches on important but sensitive issues and themes, and we are aware of the need for both courage and delicacy to work together with everyone involved to follow the project through with care. Negotiating strong and contradictory feelings evoked by the project themes in participants, communities, organisations and ourselves is a large part of our work. This includes adapting to a wide and sometimes conflicting range of views as to what is or 'should be' private and what can be shared.
Who are your partners?
We are encouraged by the support and involvement of our partners. Arts Council of Wales; Brecon and District MIND; Powys Teaching Health Board; Research partner, writer and historian Dr Bob Adams, BSc, MB BS, FRCPsych, M Psychotherapy; Creative mentor, Mel Brimfield, Royal College of Art. We're particularly grateful to Marie Davies, CEO at Brecon and District MIND and to Lucinda Bevan, Arts in Health Co-ordinator, Powys Teaching Health Board, for the inspiration, experience and ideas that shaped our plans as well as the support in safeguarding, risk assessments, levels of consent and observation of service protocols that gave us confidence to go ahead.
These were our key partners, but one of the pleasures of the project has been the way unexpected alliances have emerged. For example, the arts organisation PEAKcymru have lent us technology that was outside our budget but has been key to engagement. And mid-way through the project, artists, writers and an art psychotherapist responded to our invitation to form a community artist peer discussion group, inspired by Bethlem Gallery's Questions of Care online workshop earlier this year. Together we shared some of the dilemmas and pleasures of community engagement and all agreed this should be an on going group.
In methodology, our project follows the many existing models of good practice in exploring these themes, including artist-led projects, some of which are listed in the resources and links section.
What has been happening in the project so far?
Our activities have included looking inward to our own emotional and artistic journeys, and outward - to historical archives, online resources, other former hospital sites and communities and arts engagement with local community groups.
Research activities have included initial consultation with our research partner and our creative mentor to deepen our understanding of historical context and help identify the shape of our own and collaborative art activities. We visited Glenside Hospital Museum to see how they have turned their former chapel into a lively resource for the local community and a centre of good practice in dealing with historic and current attitudes to mental health.
From the earliest days of the project we knew that a visit to the Mid Wales Hospital archives, held at Powys Archives in Llandrindod Wells, would be vital to getting a sense of hidden stories. We were able to view registers, case notes, maps and other documents that fall outside the 100 year limitation on viewing but it was the personal accounts, letters and photographs that touched our hearts. We're unable to share photos for this research and development project, but this may be possible in any future phase. Both of us have made images inspired by what we saw. This one is by Susan.
There have been six workshops so far and we will be doing a demonstration / workshop at Felindre Ward, Bronllys Hospital too. We've seen amazing levels of engagement and enthusiasm. Quite a few people wanted more time to continue their artworks, so in addition to the workshops we have supplied materials and activity packs. We have welcomed the contribution of people who preferred not to use art materials, but who kept us company and joined in the conversations.
Participants at the Brecon & District Mind workshops told us about the tiny but packed Museum in the Old Post Office in Talgarth which they thought would have artefacts relating to A Private Land. So we made a visit and were surprised and delighted to find objects, images, artworks and records from the Mid Wales Hospital, donated by the community.
We met so many people with fascinating tales to tell. This thread has led us to adapt our plans for final events in order to be part of the Talgarth Festival
What will happen next and how can people get involved?
We'll be having final events to show what we have all done together in the project and to continue to gather stories and memories. We'll be inviting people to bring any artefacts they may have from the old hospital site to help form an archive and preserve memories. The events are free and open to all, so please do come along and spread the word.
We'll be having a stall at Talgarth Festival on Saturday 26th August making contacts, offering more opportunities for sharing stories verbally, through art making and display of objects. We plan a shared walk up to the old hospital site, late afternoon / early evening.
There will be a co-produced exhibition at The Muse, Brecon, 28th and 29th October, with guest artists, a writing / poetry workshop, performers and poetry reading. And of course, more opportunities for people to contribute. Full details of all our events will be posted on A Private Land / Tir Diarffordd Facebook page
We've only been able to give a broad overview of our complex project in this blog, but if you would like to see more we have been keeping a record of most of our activities and engagement on our Artist Information Company blog: https://www.a-n.co.uk/blogs/a-private-land-tir-diarffordd/ Brecon and District Mind suggested we set up a Facebook page (QR code below) to help keep in touch with participants and as a focus for ideas / exchanges so there's lots to see there too and we'd love it if people would like to add comments and posts. We're happy for people to contribute in language of choice. Croeso i chi gyfrannu yn y Gymraeg!
About the artists
Susan Adams lives near Brecon and Penny Hallas lives near Crickhowell, forming a kind of triangle with Talgarth. Both artists have extensive experience of working with communities, in education, health and with a wide range of organisations and institutions. They have exhibited widely in Wales and internationally. You can see more of their work on the links below.
Susan Adams https://susan-adams.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/susan_j_adams/?hl=en
Penny Hallas https://www.pennyhallas.co.uk https://www.instagram.com/pennyhallas/?hl=en
Resources and links
PEAK cymru https://www.peakcymru.org
Talgarth Museum https://www.facebook.com/TalgarthMuseum
Glenside Hospital Museum https://www.glensidemuseum.org.uk
Bethlem Gallery https://bethlemgallery.com
Outside In https://www.instagram.com/outsidein_uk/?hl=en
The restoration Trust Change Minds Project https://restorationtrust.org.uk/change-minds/
Mendip Hospital Cemetery http://www.mendiphospitalcemetery.org.uk
High Royds Hospital website, Talgarth page http://www.highroydshospital.com/resource/mid-wales-hospital-talgarth/
The role of Arts in Improving Health and Wellbeing
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/929773/DCMS_report_April_2020_finalx__1_.pdf
The Wales Arts Health & Wellbeing Network (WAHWN) https://wahwn.cymru
The Wales Arts Health & Wellbeing Network (WAHWN) https://wahwn.cymru
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