What we do
What We Do
Arts for Health Milton Keynes uses arts and creativity to improve health and well-being.
Watch a short Introduction to Arts for Health MK below:
We deliver innovative and inclusive arts activities, events and exhibitions in health care and community settings.
We are based at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where we care for the art collection, organise a programme of temporary exhibitions and run events for staff.
Arts for Health Milton Keynes grew out of the voluntary Hospital Arts Committee who had the vision to develop an art collection at the hospital when it first opened in 1984. The Collection currently has around 400 artworks and is the largest permanent collection in Milton Keynes.
In the wider community we deliver a series of art workshops for many different groups of people facing health challenges, including people with dementia and young people going through a difficult time.
Our longest running programme is Arts on Prescription, which offers free 12 week art courses for adults with mental and physical health issues. Since the start of the Arts on Prescription programme, over 300 people have participated and evaluation of the programme shows that participants report improvements to their health and wellbeing through taking part.
Find out more about our workshops, including arts on prescription here:
https://artsforhealthmk.org.uk/Workshops-Activities
Trustees
Our trustees are a group of volunteers who have overall control of the charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. You can read more about the role of trustees on the Gov.uk website.
If you would like to contact a member of the board please email us on info@artsforhealthmk.org.uk and we will direct you to the right person.
Chris Kubiak
(Chair)
Linda Bartram
Simon Lloyd
Joanne Turner
Heather Chandler
Asha Chandola
Why not join our Board of Trustees?
We are looking for Trustees from the Arts and Culture sector to join the board. We are particularly interested in hearing from professional artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives who may be currently working or retired, who might like to get involved, particularly artists from diverse communities.
Please find below our Trustee Recruitment pack which is available to download.
Download Trustee Role Description.doc here
We are looking for Trustees from the Arts and Culture sector to join the board. We are particularly interested in hearing from professional artists, musicians, writers, and other creatives who may be currently working or retired, who might like to get involved, particularly artists from diverse communities.
The commitment would be four meetings a year plus an AGM (usually immediately after the November meeting) There would also be an expectation that you would be willing to advocate and support the Charity in whatever way worked for you in between the meetings, and Trustees have various levels of personal involvement depending on their skills.
As you would expect, the Board tend to focus on big picture topics - fundraising, financial health, strategy and outcomes - not so much the operations of front line delivery.
How to apply?Please find below our Trustee Recruitment pack which is available to download.
Download Trustee Role Description.doc here
Staff
Ben Heyworth
Director
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“My name is Ben Heyworth and I am the Director for Arts for Health Milton Keynes. I’m delighted to work with a small, dedicated team, and a well respected organisation working across Milton Keynes’ arts and culture sector, bringing all kinds of creativity and artistic practice to diverse communities and promoting better health and wellbeing. My background is in the arts and I also have twenty years of experience working in a senior role in the NHS, as well as being a lecturer at the University of Manchester specialising in Cancer, Personalised Care, and LGBT. Arts for Health MK will continue to work closely with Milton Keynes University Hospital, curating the substantial art collection and developing creative outdoor spaces, as well as a post-pandemic relaunch of our Arts On Prescription offer, and establishing a new programme around diversity and inclusion called the Inclusive Arts Programme. As always, we are interested to hear from anybody who might have a project idea or wish to work with us on a collaborative basis.”
Director
“My name is Ben Heyworth and I am the Director for Arts for Health Milton Keynes. I’m delighted to work with a small, dedicated team, and a well respected organisation working across Milton Keynes’ arts and culture sector, bringing all kinds of creativity and artistic practice to diverse communities and promoting better health and wellbeing. My background is in the arts and I also have twenty years of experience working in a senior role in the NHS, as well as being a lecturer at the University of Manchester specialising in Cancer, Personalised Care, and LGBT. Arts for Health MK will continue to work closely with Milton Keynes University Hospital, curating the substantial art collection and developing creative outdoor spaces, as well as a post-pandemic relaunch of our Arts On Prescription offer, and establishing a new programme around diversity and inclusion called the Inclusive Arts Programme. As always, we are interested to hear from anybody who might have a project idea or wish to work with us on a collaborative basis.”
Emma Barford
Collection and Exhibitions Manager (Part-time)
Jackie Sarafopoulos
Collections Development Officer (Part-time)
Naomi Lutman
Programmes Administrator (Part-time)
Georgia Tillery Randak
Creative Play Project Manager (Part-time)
To contact a member of staff please email info@artsforhealthmk.org.uk with the person you wish to contact.
Our Regular Artists:
We are privileged to work with a number of professional artists and workshop leaders. Currently those include:
Anne-Marie Abbate; Emma Barford; Shauna Boland-Rhodes; Ciara Callaghan; Robin Clements; Laura Dove; Sophia Ghory; Sarah Hunt; Eva Popovic, Georgia Tillery Randak and Sarah Watts.
Collection and Exhibitions Manager (Part-time)
Jackie Sarafopoulos
Collections Development Officer (Part-time)
Naomi Lutman
Programmes Administrator (Part-time)
Georgia Tillery Randak
Creative Play Project Manager (Part-time)
To contact a member of staff please email info@artsforhealthmk.org.uk with the person you wish to contact.
Our Regular Artists:
We are privileged to work with a number of professional artists and workshop leaders. Currently those include:
Anne-Marie Abbate; Emma Barford; Shauna Boland-Rhodes; Ciara Callaghan; Robin Clements; Laura Dove; Sophia Ghory; Sarah Hunt; Eva Popovic, Georgia Tillery Randak and Sarah Watts.
Opportunities
At Arts for Health Milton Keynes we are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
Volunteer with us
Work with us
Work with us...
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.
Vacancies
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Issued by: Arts for Health MK at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH)
Project Title: Conservation and Collections Care Tender – The New City Collection
Funded by: The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Viewing Day: 8th June 2026
︎ Deadline for applications: 28th June 2026
Arts for Health MK is inviting tenders from suitably qualified and experienced art and sculpture conservation specialists to assess, conserve, restore, and reintroduce key artworks and sculptures from the Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) collection into the public hospital environment, ensuring their longevity and renewed relevance for staff, patients, and visitors.
This invitation forms part of a major project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Saving our ‘New City Collection’ and reframing its future with local communities. Thanks to National Lottery players, Arts for Health MK (AfHMK) is delivering an extensive programme of conservation and community engagement at Milton Keynes University Hospital. The project is additionally supported by Milton Keynes City Council and Milton Keynes Hospital Charity. The wider project runs from September 2025, with final reporting due by December 2027.
DOWNLOADS:
︎ AfHMK Conservation Tender and Assessor Document (pdf)
︎ Tender Opportunity 1 (pdf)
︎ Tender Opportunity 2 (pdf)
︎ Form of Tender (doc)
The first document provides an overview brief of the organisation, the wider project, and the expectations for the conservation work. The overall tender documentation includes two detailed, discipline-specific briefs: one for sculpture conservation and one for artworks. Applicants are welcome to tender for one or both strands. We also welcome proposals that demonstrate joined up working across specialists where this best serves the needs of the Collection. We are open to conversation and would be pleased to discuss the opportunity informally with prospective applicants prior to submission.
The MKUH Art Collection has developed over more than forty years and comprises over 400 works, including significant paintings and sculptures, displayed throughout corridors, wards, and public spaces. The Collection forms a vital part of the hospital’s cultural heritage and identity. A key aim of the project is to enhance public access to and engagement with the Collection. Alongside conservation, the programme includes professional photography, clarification of ownership and copyright status, securing permissions for future use, and, where possible, oral history interviews with artists or their representatives in partnership with Living Archive MK. These interviews will document artists’ experiences, influences, and creative processes, enriching public understanding and interpretation of the works.
As both MKUH (through Milton Keynes Hospital Charity) and AfHMK are registered charities, fundraising remains essential to the continued care, interpretation, and promotion of this important public collection. Where relevant, we would be grateful for permission to document and exhibit aspects of the conservation process as part of the National Heritage Lottery Funded project and for conservators to be supportive of this process.
As a diverse and inclusive organisation, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
Thank you for your interest in our work. We look forward to receiving your tender(s) and assessment quotes.
Emma Barford
Collections and Exhibitions Manager, Arts for Health MK
Email: emma.barford@artsforhealthmk.org.uk
Jackie Sarafopoulos
Collections Development Officer, Arts for Health MK
Email: jackie.sarafopoulos@artsforhealthmk.org.uk
︎ The closing date for Applications is 28th June 2026.
Vacancies
Invitation: Art and Sculpture Conservation Specialists
Issued by: Arts for Health MK at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH)
Project Title: Conservation and Collections Care Tender – The New City Collection
Funded by: The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Viewing Day: 8th June 2026
︎ Deadline for applications: 28th June 2026
Arts for Health MK is inviting tenders from suitably qualified and experienced art and sculpture conservation specialists to assess, conserve, restore, and reintroduce key artworks and sculptures from the Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) collection into the public hospital environment, ensuring their longevity and renewed relevance for staff, patients, and visitors.
This invitation forms part of a major project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Saving our ‘New City Collection’ and reframing its future with local communities. Thanks to National Lottery players, Arts for Health MK (AfHMK) is delivering an extensive programme of conservation and community engagement at Milton Keynes University Hospital. The project is additionally supported by Milton Keynes City Council and Milton Keynes Hospital Charity. The wider project runs from September 2025, with final reporting due by December 2027.
DOWNLOADS:
︎ AfHMK Conservation Tender and Assessor Document (pdf)
︎ Tender Opportunity 1 (pdf)
︎ Tender Opportunity 2 (pdf)
︎ Form of Tender (doc)
The first document provides an overview brief of the organisation, the wider project, and the expectations for the conservation work. The overall tender documentation includes two detailed, discipline-specific briefs: one for sculpture conservation and one for artworks. Applicants are welcome to tender for one or both strands. We also welcome proposals that demonstrate joined up working across specialists where this best serves the needs of the Collection. We are open to conversation and would be pleased to discuss the opportunity informally with prospective applicants prior to submission.
The MKUH Art Collection has developed over more than forty years and comprises over 400 works, including significant paintings and sculptures, displayed throughout corridors, wards, and public spaces. The Collection forms a vital part of the hospital’s cultural heritage and identity. A key aim of the project is to enhance public access to and engagement with the Collection. Alongside conservation, the programme includes professional photography, clarification of ownership and copyright status, securing permissions for future use, and, where possible, oral history interviews with artists or their representatives in partnership with Living Archive MK. These interviews will document artists’ experiences, influences, and creative processes, enriching public understanding and interpretation of the works.
As both MKUH (through Milton Keynes Hospital Charity) and AfHMK are registered charities, fundraising remains essential to the continued care, interpretation, and promotion of this important public collection. Where relevant, we would be grateful for permission to document and exhibit aspects of the conservation process as part of the National Heritage Lottery Funded project and for conservators to be supportive of this process.
As a diverse and inclusive organisation, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
Thank you for your interest in our work. We look forward to receiving your tender(s) and assessment quotes.
Emma Barford
Collections and Exhibitions Manager, Arts for Health MK
Email: emma.barford@artsforhealthmk.org.uk
Jackie Sarafopoulos
Collections Development Officer, Arts for Health MK
Email: jackie.sarafopoulos@artsforhealthmk.org.uk
︎ The closing date for Applications is 28th June 2026.
Office
Arts for Health Milton Keynes
Facilities Directorate
Milton Keynes Hospital
Standing Way
Eaglestone
Milton Keynes
MK6 5LD
Privacy Policy
Arts for Health Milton Keynes
Facilities Directorate
Milton Keynes Hospital
Standing Way
Eaglestone
Milton Keynes
MK6 5LD
Privacy Policy
Arts for Health Milton Keynes is the working name of MK Arts for Health charity number 1107625 company number 05137693