The pioneering force behind one of the UK's most ambitious hospital arts programmes, Susan Loppert, has died at the age of 81. As the first director of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Arts from 1993 to 2003, she fundamentally reimagined the hospital environment, transforming clinical spaces into vibrant cultural hubs.
A Vision For Healing Through Art
Susan Loppert was determined to dismantle what she saw as artificial walls that reduced individuals to the one-dimensional identity of 'patient'. Her vision was not about token artistic gestures but a profound integration of culture into healthcare. Under her decade-long leadership, the programme installed 2,000 original works of art throughout the hospital's vast atrium, clinics, wards, and treatment areas.
Beyond visual art, her ambitious programme featured full-length operas, an annual music festival, Indian dancers in residence, and workshops led by artists ranging from poets to puppeteers. Many pieces were specially commissioned, creating a unique and ever-evolving artistic environment. Crucially, not a single penny for these initiatives came from NHS budgets; Susan successfully raised hundreds of thousands of pounds through her formidable fundraising skills.
A Life Forged in Diverse Cultural Landscapes
Born in Grahamstown, South Africa, Susan was raised in Johannesburg's liberal Jewish community. Though she later became a staunch atheist, she maintained a strong cultural connection to her heritage. After studying English at the University of the Witwatersrand, she moved to London for postgraduate studies at the Courtauld Institute but left before graduating.
Her career was remarkably varied, touching many of the 20th century's significant cultural moments. She worked as an editorial assistant at the Paris Review and for Robert Fraser at his Mayfair gallery, even standing in as director during his imprisonment following the Rolling Stones trial. She later held positions at Sotheby's in both London and Cape Town, working as a freelance art dealer and consultant.
Personal Experience Informing Professional Mission
Susan's drive to humanise hospital environments was deeply personal. Having contracted polio in childhood, she endured lifelong damage to her spine and lungs and spent significant periods in hospital. This firsthand experience of the dehumanising aspects of institutional care fuelled her passion for creating spaces that acknowledged the full richness of patients' lives beyond their medical conditions.
Her groundbreaking work earned her numerous accolades, including a European Women of Achievement award in 2004, a Creative Britons award in 2000, and Londoner of the Year in 1998. Described as feisty, opinionated, and demanding, she defended her artistic vision and supported her artists with fierce determination.
Susan Loppert is survived by her partner of 25 years and her two brothers, Max and David. Her legacy continues to influence the integration of arts in healthcare settings across the UK and beyond, proving that environment is integral to healing.
