Organ Donor Recognition Artwork

‘The Call’ is a landmark ceramic mural curated by Lime and Lead Artists Liam Curtin and Stephen Raw, depicting a unique poem by John McAuliffe. The artwork is located at MFT’s Oxford Road site, situated on the wall of the Patrick Cryne Building facing the main boulevard area. The artwork was funded by Manchester Foundation Trust Charity and National Health Service Blood & Transplant (NHSBT).  

Every day someone in the UK dies waiting for a transplant, due to a shortage of people donating, NHSBT currently estimates that nationally, there are around 7,000 people waiting for transplants, making every single donation precious and life changing. This large scale mural is fabricated from terracotta tiles, with a central panel of glazed blue text with lettering designed by Stephen Raw. Visitors can follow the information panel guidance next to the piece, to take a rubbing of the artwork. Installed on 23 September 2024 and officially unveiled by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, this piece is four years in the making and is the culmination of an extended art and design project involving clinicians, artists, and donor family members. 

Curated by Lime, a series of workshops took place with donor families and NHS staff, including poetry workshops with John McAuliffe and calligraphy and clay-workshops with artists Stephen Raw and Liam Curtin. The artists developed a firm foundation of trust with families which enabled them to share stories and use creativity to explore their experiences. 

The development of the artwork has also been informed through the participation of Manchester Foundation Trust and NHS Blood & Transplant Organ Donor teams, in particular, Dr Jonathan Bannard-Smith – Clinical Lead for Organ Donation (Adults) and Jessica Hough – Specialist Nurse Organ Donation.  

“Without the organ donor, there is no story, no hope, no transplant. But when there is an organ donor, life springs from death, sorrow turns to hope, and a terrible loss becomes the greatest gift...This project is helping me to heal and process my grief in a positive way. I would recommend the power of creative projects to all and especially to support bereaved families.”  Organ Donor Family Member

“Having been involved in organ donation and transplantation at the trust for nearly ten years, I’m honoured to be involved in a creative project that pays great admiration, respect and gratitude to our patients who kindly donate their organs at the end of their lives. It has been wonderous to see the strength of donor families and transplant recipients, the creative talent of artists and poets all channelled through the artistic direction and project management delivered by Lime.”     Dr. Jonathan Bannard-Smith, Consultant Critical Care & Anaesthesia 

Thank you to the organ donor families who have participated throughout this project.

John McAuliffe is an Irish poet, resident in Manchester since 2004. Professor of Poetry at the University of Manchester and Associate Publisher at the poetry press, Carcanet, his books include Selected Poems (2022) and National Theatre , due later in 2024, which will reprint his commissioned poem, “The Call”.

Stephen Raw is a much-celebrated artist who specialises in the visualisation of text. He has worked with the last three poet laureates and the Royal Mint. His work can be seen in many public and private collections worldwide. www.stephenraw.com

Liam Curtin has been making art for over 50 years. He has produced many works of public art across the city and the UK for which he develops consultation processes that involve communities in a dialogue that results in works that have resonance with them. Some of his private artwork is exhibited at Galleries abroad. www.liamcurtin.co.uk