A thriving arts scene has key part to play in road to recovery

So the arts are alive and kicking in Torbay and if music is your thing why not give us a listen at Torbay Hospital Radio, you can ask your smart speaker or go to our website.

There is a lot going on at Torbay Hospital and as I was wandering back to the studio the other day I chanced on the latest exhibition in the HeArts gallery by Claire Armitage, it’s called Wild Solace. According to her website, ‘Claire's work is about capturing of a sense of place, exploring our complex interconnectivity with the natural world’ and I can certainly see this in the art that is on display.

Claire is currently working with the HeArts team at to produce a series of prints for Simpson ward. The work I’ve mentioned above  can be found in the HeArts gallery, in the corridor behind level 4 main reception at Torbay Hospital, until Sunday 2nd June 2024.  As for ‘HeArTs – Health and the Arts in Torbay and South Devon’, that is a curated programme of art and events that develop opportunities for both users and providers of healthcare to engage more fully with the diversity of arts to benefit health and wellbeing. It is supported by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. 

Anyway it’s worth a visit if you find yourself in the hospital. The area around the reception is a busy spot, with visitors. Patients, doctors and nurses, passing through. There’s a chance to grab a coffee and a snack and buy yourself a paper or a book and then have a look at the art.

Recent studies have shown that access to arts opportunities and participation in the arts can dramatically improve health outcomes and well-being. The most common ways people engage with the arts in health is with music engagement, the visual arts, dance and expressive writing. Since hospital radio started here at Torbay in 1977 we have promoted the value of music to the patients and you only have to speak to a patient or two to realise  how true that still is today.

For our part we try to promote local talent and recently we had a young singer from Teignmouth Jess Rowe come in and sing live and joyful experience, one that we will repeat on 30th April on Keith Reeves show between 11am and 1pm. Like many young singers Jess is making her way and she does so with much passion and talent. She will be singing live at the Harbour Light, Paignton Bank Holiday Monday 6th May at 3pm. If you get a chance pop in and see her play.

Another young local rock band receiving good reviews are 3 Days of Wonder, who have also been into our studios, they give an 80’s and 90’s vibe when preforming and are receiving quite a bit of airplay. In September they will be on the BBC introducing stage at the Little Orchard Festival at Healey’s Cider Farm, Penhallow in Cornwall. This is a big break for the boys as since launching in 2007, the Introducing platform has helped launch the careers of George Ezra, Florence and the Machine, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding and Becky Hill, to name just a few.

Something else for to check out is Torbay Rocks which features Music performed by Devon Musicians to support Torbay NHS front line staff, set up during lock down by  Brett Morton from the Offshore bar down by the harbour in Torquay. When 64 popular local bands and musicians  came together to produce an album of music which is still available at www.torbayrocks.co.uk. It’s well worth a listen.

Offshore are also having their annual live music festival on  12th May 2024, this is a great event in aid of the RNLI and so if you are down by the harbour why not pop in. More details are available on the Offshore Bar and Restaurant website.

So the arts are alive and kicking in Torbay and if music is your thing why not give us a listen at Torbay Hospital Radio, you can ask your smart speaker or go to our website.