An art competition for local primary schools run by the North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) redevelopment team has attracted an amazing 609 entries.
The primary pupils were invited to create pictures to cover the construction safety hoardings going up around the hospital site as the redevelopment progresses. Entries came flooding in from Abraham Moss, Crosslee, Manchester Communications Primary Academy and St Claire’s primary schools.
The children were asked to create pictures illustrating four themes: ‘Love your NHS’, ‘NHS rainbows’, ‘What makes you happy’ and ‘Your favourite things about North Manchester’
Work has started on transforming NMGH into a new health campus, with health and social care facilities, high-quality new homes, access to better education and training, and more inviting open spaces. The construction safety hoardings have been erected around buildings scheduled for demolition and the site of the new Multi-Storey Car Park and Cycle Hub.
With so many pictures submitted, the competition judges had a very difficult task in shortlisting the entries and then choosing the winners.
“We were absolutely bowled over by the levels of creativity and imagination shown in all the pictures,” said Michelle Humphreys, Director of Strategic Projects at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), which is leading on the NMGH redevelopment.
“it was a significant challenge to narrow it down to just seven winners. We will be inviting them and their teachers to come to the hospital to receiver their prize vouchers and see their artwork in pride of place on the hoardings later in the year.
“The competition is just one part of our ongoing engagement with local schools. The new NMGH campus will be at the heart of the community and we want children and young people to get involved from the very beginning. We’ll also be offering apprenticeships and work placement opportunities for older pupils as the development gets underway.”
Michelle also thanked the judging panel: Hannah Coulston (Bruntwood), Deborah Goodman (Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust), Sophie Hargreaves (MFT), Nin Khoshaba (Hive Projects), Anne Taylor (Manchester City Council).and Jenna Shaw (Manchester Local Care Organisation).