St Luke’s Hospital Art Centre is delighted to launch “Open Gallery”. Since 2008 St Luke’s Art Centre has developed and run a vibrant, varied and inclusive arts programme for our patients. In preparation for the launch, Art Centre staff conducted research with patients as part of a specific project entitled “Drawing on my Experiences”. The aim of this project was threefold – to visually record and discuss patients’ experience of art making, to investigate why some people turn to making visual art after a cancer diagnosis and to explore how artistic self expression seems to contribute to the reconstruction of a positive identity. 14 cancer patients took part, both male and female. Some had no experience and some were returning to art making. The patients were interviewed individually by Ema Staunton, while our illustrator Lee Kirwan sketched them. The interviews explored how being involved in art making had affected patients cancer journey. Overall the project highlighted the positive and transformative impact that arts experiences can have on cancer patients. The exhibition is on the main corridor in St Luke’s Rathgar. Alongside this project art created by patients is displayed. Curated and devised by Ema Staunton (Arts Co-ordinator), Drawings by Lee Kirwan (Arts Facilitator), Project assistant Alison McGrath. Well done to the team it is a fantastic exhibition both visually and informatively.