When we created anatomē, we understood how fragile our mental wellbeing can be. We all wear a kind of armour, and what we show the world doesn’t always reveal what we’re carrying inside.
For me, scent can be a small anchor. A familiar fragrance can bring back a person or a place, or offer a moment to pause and feel more present. It has made me attentive to our surroundings, and to how deeply personal our experience of a space can be.
That is part of what first drew me to Hospital Rooms —and why we’re renewing our charity partnership this year.
A different experience of care
Hospital Rooms is a UK arts and mental health charity founded in 2016 by curator Niamh White and artist Tim A Shaw. After visiting a close friend in a mental health hospital, they felt compelled to change the stark, clinical environment they encountered.
Their response was to bring extraordinary art into these spaces. Working alongside patients and staff, artists develop original artworks informed by the people who spend time there. Creative workshops make participation and conversation part of the process.
What moves me about this approach is the attention it gives to people’s individual experiences. These are places where someone may be spending weeks or months during a difficult period in their life. Their surroundings deserve imagination and care, alongside the clinical support they receive.
The connection between art and scent
Art and scent speak to us in different ways. A painting might spark curiosity, express something difficult to put into words or remind us of somewhere beyond the room. A scent might carry a memory or become a familiar part of our day.
For me, their connection lies in that ability to reach something personal.
Hospital Rooms’ work also reminds us that creativity belongs to everyone. Their free Digital Art School offers artist-led online workshops, opening up opportunities to experiment and make something, whatever your experience.
None of us knows when we, a friend or someone in our family might need mental health care. Supporting environments that recognise the whole person feels important to me, both personally and as the founder of anatomē.
Building our partnership
We’ll be making a monthly donation to Hospital Rooms and inviting you to match it at checkout. An icon in your cart will give you the option to contribute, and we hope you enjoy learning more about their work.
In 2027, we’ll also be supporting events with Hospital Rooms, building on our relationship and finding more ways to bring our community closer to their work.
Supporting our communities means showing up over time. I’m proud that we’re continuing this partnership, and grateful to everyone who chooses to be part of it.
