Kingshill House Hosts Revolutionary Art Exhibition to Address Gender Disparity in Cardiac Arrest Survival. A groundbreaking art exhibition aimed at tackling the gender disparity in cardiac arrest survival rates will be held at Kingshill House from 2 to 30 September 2024. The event, officially launching on 7 September from 13:00 to 17:00, will offer free entry and is designed to raise awareness and spark action against the troubling statistics affecting women in sudden cardiac arrest situations.
Art for Awareness
The Sudden Cardiac Art Exhibition is an innovative initiative set to challenge societal norms and raise awareness about the critical need for immediate medical intervention during cardiac emergencies. The exhibition features contributions from artists worldwide who have created pieces to highlight and address the systemic issue where women are 1.5 times less likely to receive defibrillation and have a 50% higher risk of mortality than men.
Event Highlights
The Launch Event on 7 September promises a diverse range of activities and engagements:
- Artist Discussions: Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the artists, gaining insights into their works and the messages behind them.
- Defibrillator and CPR Demonstrations: Experts will provide hands-on training suitable for all ages, emphasizing the importance of knowing how to use defibrillators and perform CPR.
- Interactive Training: The event will feature music videos and dance sessions to engage participants in learning life-saving techniques.
- Panel Discussion: A unique discussion panel will include sudden cardiac arrest survivors, medical personnel, and advocacy organizations, offering personal stories and expert perspectives on improving survival rates.
Quotes from Key Figures
“Artists globally have united with their brushes, pens, and carving tools to combat the preventable deaths of women, driven by restrictive societal norms that deter necessary actions. As the exhibition organizers at Heart Charged put it, ‘Flash The Boobs to Save A Life.’
Charlie Kirkham, a UK artist and heart patient, adds, “Working with HeartCharged from the first Zoom call to the snowball of getting 36 international artists to donate bespoke exhibition pieces, the whole experience has been exhilarating. “Watching it all come together in such a stunning exhibition space fills me with immense pride.”
The Matter of Heart
The exhibition’s origins trace back to Bethany and Hannah Keime, founders of HeartCharged, who both live with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition. Recognizing the critical role of awareness and prompt action during cardiac emergencies, they launched a mission to educate the public on defibrillator use and CPR. Their efforts were inspired by the stark gender disparities in survival rates, where women are often left untreated due to societal biases.
Charlie Kirkham, moved by the HeartCharged campaign, collaborated with artists globally to create 80 artworks from 36 artists. These pieces are not only a celebration of the power to save lives but also a call to honor women’s bodies by ensuring they receive the medical attention they need.
Join Us in Making a Difference
The Sudden Cardiac Art Exhibition at Kingshill House aims to blend art with activism, fostering a deeper understanding of the critical need for gender equality in cardiac arrest treatment. By attending, participants will contribute to a broader movement to save lives and change the narrative around sudden cardiac arrest survival rates.