Collection Management Volunteer

CW+ Collection Management Volunteer

About CW+

CW+ is the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Our vision is to enable every patient to receive outstanding care, in our Trust’s community
of more than 1.5 million people and beyond.

Our mission is to work with our Trust to create world-class facilities, drive innovation and
research, and enhance patient and staff wellbeing. Using our expertise in partnership
building, arts in health and healthcare innovation, we develop creative solutions to support
an evolving NHS.

We are proud pioneers in the field of Arts in Health. Built in 1993, Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital was the first hospital in the UK to lay an arts and design manifesto as part of its
build plans, briefing architects to include artworks in public and clinical areas, and having an
acquisitions and commissioning policy from its inception.

We are proud pioneers in the field of Arts in Health. Built in 1993, Chelsea and Westminster
Hospital was the first hospital in the UK to lay an arts and design manifesto as part of its
build plans, briefing architects to include art works in public and clinical areas, and having an
acquisitions and commissioning policy from its inception.

About the CW+ Arts in Health programme

Our pioneering Arts in Health programme focuses on the link between human health and
the environment, building on the robust body of evidence that outstanding design and
engagement with the arts can improve physical and mental wellbeing. We hold a collection
of more than 2,000 works of art and digital installations, many of which are on display
around our hospitals for all to enjoy. And our Arts for All programme brings daily music,
performance and creative activities into the wards, using art as a tool for healing.

Drawing on 30 years of expertise, we create environments that encourage patient recovery
and support staff in delivering the best possible care. Our Design and Environment
programme works with renowned partners who specialise in health, technology and
environmental design, to address the factors which create the optimum healing
environment. These include temperature, lighting, acoustics, air quality, closeness to nature,
wayfinding, privacy and the arts and technology.

Underpinning all of our work is an objective to grow a robust body of evidence that clearly
demonstrates the impact on patient outcomes, care delivery and cost effectiveness of these
programmes and enhancements.

Becoming a Collection Management Volunteer

An exciting opportunity to support the art collection curation and management has arisen,
and we are looking for an individual with an interest in arts in health, collection
management and conservation and experience working in the arts to assist with various
collection management duties. These include:

•  Research: researching the provenance and value of some of our key works of art and

producing informative interpretation to go alongside artwork on display.

•  Accessioning and deaccessioning: assisting with accepting donations, loans and

acquisitions of new works of art to the collection, as well as deaccessioning works
which cannot be displayed via auctions, sales and donations.

•  Condition checking: undertaking checks on artworks to produce reports on their
condition and reporting on their needs regarding conservation and restoration.
•  Curation: assisting with the curation of new works in wards, departments and public

areas, and facilitating installation days with technicians and assisting with
exhibitions.

•  Cataloguing: maintaining our arts database and updating records to reflect new

installations and conservation work, or to add/remove artworks from the collection.

•  Printed and guided tours: facilitating and assisting with guided tours of the

collection and distributing printed media.

The Collection Management Volunteer will have good research and IT skills. They will be
happy to receive training on conservation and condition checking if required, and will have a
passionate interest in the arts. This role involves walking around the hospital, and some light
to medium lifting and carrying of artworks.

What does this role offer?

•  The opportunity to learn more about the CW+ Art Collection, our commissions and

managing a public arts collection.

•  Training opportunities – the chance to work with our wide network of specialists and
experts to develop skills in collection management, conservation and art history.

•  The chance to meet new people – working directly with our Arts Programme
Manager, and with the CW+ Arts Team and wider hospital community.

•  All out-of-pocket expenses will be covered – this includes travel to and from the

hospital.

Where?

The role will be based at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and occasionally West
Middlesex University Hospital. There is a free shuttle bus from Chelsea to West Middlesex if
transportation is required.

When?

Due to the training and induction required, we are looking for someone who could commit
at least one working day per week for a minimum of six months, and who would become a
key part of our team. CW+ is committed to helping our volunteers thrive and develop in
their role, and ensuring we provide exciting opportunities, training and support.

If you are interested in working with us at CW+ or would like to find out more, please send
an email to laura.bradshaw@cwplus.org.uk giving a short covering letter expressing your
interest in the volunteer position, your arts experience and your availability to volunteer.