The World’s Largest Chocolate Button
Answering the Call – Commonwealth Nurses in the NHS
Looking to the Light
Previous exhibition 2022-2023
An exciting exhibition of contemporary art exploring mental health care was hosted in 2022 at Glenside Hospital Museum, Bristol. It was one of three ground-breaking new exhibitions across the UK inspired by remarkable collections relating to mental health.
In Bristol, the national arts charity Outside In recruited ten talented artists to take part in a series of courses to interrogate the psychiatric hospital collection at Glenside Hospital Museum. See the exhibition catalogue here
Many aspects of the museum and its history – from a padded room to use of mosquitoes on treatments – caught the imaginations of Jackie Bennett, Steve Burden, Steven Edgar, George Harding, Jasmine Janiurek, Anna Rathbone, Ally Schooler, Alison Willis, Natasha Harrison and Damien Moran.
Quilt by Anna Rathbone
Inspired by one patient
“The theme ‘Looking to the Light’ was inspired by the patient Charles West, photographed in 1897 at Bristol’s mental hospital and the stained glass windows depicting saints and healing that bathe the Museum in coloured light,” explained Stella Man, curator and tutor at Glenside Hospital Museum
“The New Dialogues project enabled me to unpick what art means to me including its connection to life,” says artist Natasha Harrison. “It encouraged us to take the plunge and grow in confidence, to believe in our own creative processes and get creating.”
The project was supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, John Ellerman Foundation and the Art Fund.
Outside In compiled a digital publication showcasing the amazing work created by artists as part of the New Dialogues project. Three organisations supported the artists to explore their collections: the Mental Health Museum in Wakefield, Glasgow Museums and Glenside Hospital Museum in Bristol.
Photo gallery
Visit Us
Glenside Hospital Museum is located within the grounds of the old psychiatric hospital housed in the 1881 Grade II listed asylum church. The main hospital building is now used by the University of West of England as their Health and Social Care Campus. We’re in situated in the Grade II listed church just inside the grounds. For more details, including group booking and accessibility, please see our visiting page.
"If you have never been to Glenside Hospital Museum, it is a wonderful museum. It is not gloomy or depressing but fascinating and hopeful. A really progressive institution."
Julie Begen
"A fabulous history of the area, the hospitals, and of approaches to mental health and learning disabilities. An amazing array of artefacts, surgical instruments and ephemera. The staff were really welcoming and knowledgeable. Absolutely loved it!"
Lea Roberts
Contact us about the museum
