On 19 September, Edinburgh Futures Institute hosted a ceremonial event called ‘Recycling a Hospital: Becoming Edinburgh Futures Institute’.
The ceremony was a way to celebrate the building’s transition from its past identity as the Old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh to its current and future identity: a place of learning, research and community-building.
Guests included University staff and students, the local community, and collaborators and partners involved in ‘Recycling a Hospital’.
Recycling a Hospital is an interdisciplinary arts project that began in 2022 using materials from the Old Royal Infirmary’s construction site.
The project’s centrepiece was ‘The Spirit Case’, a co-created sculpture made from materials including slates and timber from the old infirmary’s construction site, now installed on the third floor of the Futures Institute building.
The ceremony celebrated the partners and collaborators who contributed to the making of The Spirit Case: Jon Slight, Campbell Deeming and Stephen Thorburn and their team at the Grassmarket Community Project Woodworking Studio; Gus Fisher: stone carver, letter cutter and artist; as well as community members and Pelican Nurses who wrote poetry for the project.
Guests also participated in a series of symbolic events honouring the building: lighting lanterns on the front steps beneath the ‘Patet Omnibus’ (Open to All) sign, writing memories on paper dissolved in water which they then used to tend to small potted plants, and writing thoughts and wishes for the future on postcards they shared amongst each other.
Borne by the Walls
The ceremony included the opportunity to explore the Spirit Case and to view a new photography exhibition called ‘Borne by the Walls.’
Borne by the Walls is a portrait series that documents people and their connection to the Old Royal Infirmary. It reflects on the mark that the hospital left in the minds, bodies and life stories of people in Edinburgh and beyond.
In the series, photographer Gintare Kulyte (Futures Institute Creative Projects Intern) captures stories of former members of hospital staff, former patients of the hospital, and people whose lives were otherwise connected to the hospital’s activity.
Each photograph is taken in a location of the former hospital that is significant or symbolic to each person’s story.
Reflecting the scale of the former hospital site and its connections to the wider city, the portrait locations extend beyond the walls of the building into the wider Quartermile area and the Old Town.
Healing and caring for the future
The ceremony was organised by the ‘Recycling a Hospital’ project team, including Jennifer Williams, (Edinburgh Futures Institute Creative Projects Manager), Dr Jimmy Turner (The Binks Hub), Gintare Kulyte (Futures Institute Creative Projects Intern and Photographer), Dr Ekaterina Shurkova (Teaching Fellow, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences), supported by Dr Patricia Erskine (Director Culture and Communities, Edinburgh Futures Institute).
“It was a joyous opportunity to come together with our collaborators, partners, and our community to celebrate the transition from Old Royal Infirmary to Edinburgh Futures Institute. We invite you to view The Spirit Case and Borne by The Walls exhibition, artistic manifestations of this commemorative project that we hope will inspire others to work creatively and collaboratively toward innovative pathways and solutions, whilst continuing the practice of healing and caring in new ways.”
-Jennifer Williams, Edinburgh Futures Institute Creative Projects Manager
“The incredibly thoughtful ceremonies organised by the team helped all of us to reflect and acknowledge the building’s past. It is important we understand what it means to the people who trained and worked here, those who were patients here or who visited loved ones. We will keep everyone’s memories, as well as their hopes and dreams for the future with us as we move towards the future.”
-Professor David Smith, Deputy Head, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Further links and information:
Borne by the Walls online exhibition – The exhibit can be viewed in the building until 23 October (in Level 0 Corridor) and online.
