22nd August 2025
Musgrave Park Hospital has been gifted a stunning TOTEM sculpture created by inmates from Maghaberry Prison.
TOTEM, created in 2024, was designed to promote and show respect for our native flora and fauna has been donated to the Meadowlands Unit which specialises in the care of older people who have suffered fractures or need support following an acute admission to hospital.
Each ceramic panel features a depiction of native plants and trees. Vibrant Tiffany glass panels add a splash of colour and, when caught by the light it shimmers bringing the totem to life.
The project was a collaborative effort involving various sectors within Maghaberry Prison, including Recycling, Trades, and Learning & Skills. With support by prison staff the design was created by prisoners, each ceramic panel carefully crafted by hand in a workshop environment respectively reflecting their personal vision.
Prison Arts Foundation resident artist, Lucy Turner, has worked part-time teaching ceramics in HMP Maghaberry since 2017 and describes how TOTEM was created.
“Making art has encouraged prisoners to work together and with support from prison staff various scaled sculptural artworks with have been created. Working with clay, this natural earth given product, has by its very nature a calming influence. Working as a collective the prisoners have expressed a feeling of confidence, happiness and for many incarcerated artists the collaborative process encourages peer learning and support. Given the impressive scale and craftsmanship of the finished sculpture, the men felt it deserved a public presence, hence it’s been gifted to Musgrave Hospital.”
Colin McMullan, Interim Director for Adult Community and Older People’s Services and Allied Health Professionals with Belfast Trust said:
“Meadowlands is an environment which encourages a calm and gentle approach to help with the recovery of many patients. It also has an outpatients department and staff include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, healthcare assistants, social workers and various support staff. The external environment of Meadowlands offers patients and staff a unique opportunity to connect with others and take part in physical activity to improve well-being. We are really delighted to have been gifted such a beautiful art installation and we thank the Prison Arts Foundation for this very generous donation.”
Maghaberry Prison Governor, Tracy Megrath said:
“Prison can be a challenging time for a lot of people, but through purposeful activity we have been helping those in our care and supporting them in their efforts to give something back to the community where they will return to. We were only too delighted to support this project which shines a light on the work of Meadowlands, helping patients with their recovery, and the invaluable work of health care staff at Musgrave Park Hospital.”
Back Row L-R
Sister Tammy Taggart McKeown, Charge Nurse Gary Lutton, Artist Lucy Turner & Fred Caulfield (Prison Arts Foundation), Anita Payne and Governor Elliott (Prison Service) Nurse Karen Rocks, Claire Fordyce, (Belfast Trust Senior Manager).
Front Row L-R
Conor McCafferty, (Belfast Trust Arts in Health), Sister Terisita Givero, Dr Suzanne MacNair, Governor Hollinger (Prison Service) Nurse Sarah McCauley, Paula McHugh (Belfast Trust Arts in Health)