Black Country Digital Firsts: Introducing Sandeep Pahal with Dr Ananta Dave and Simone Word Smith
This profile is part of our Meet the Next Cohort series which introduces the artists and collectives selected for the second round of Black Country Digital Firsts. Each participant is exploring bold digital ideas that push creative boundaries and expand access to culture in the region.
Introducing: Sandeep Pahal with Dr Ananta Dave and Simone Word Smith
This collaboration brings together Senior Manager Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist and artist Sandeep Pahal, Chief Medical Officer and writer Dr Ananta Dave, and poet Simone Word Smith. Guided by their individual practices in healthcare, poetry, and community art, the group is exploring how digital tools can transform poetry and visual art into uplifting creative encounters within NHS and community settings.
What inspired you to apply for Black Country Digital Firsts and how did you hope it would impact your creative practice?
We were inspired by the opportunity to explore how digital tools can elevate creative work such as poetry and art, helping creative expressions reach wider audiences across the Black Country and offer hope and joy. Dr. Dave, author of An Agony of Hope and artist Sandeep Pahal both who work in the NHS, have partnered with poet Simone Word Smith, who writes to uplift and inspire, to transform poetry and art through digital formats, within healthcare settings. These are often places where people face some of life’s most difficult moments, and we hope to be a ray of light during those times.
Through Black Country Digital Firsts, we have gained mentorship and direction that is helping us realise this vision, pushing creative boundaries and discovering new ways to tell stories through poetry and digital engagement.
Currently there is limited creative input within healthcare, but we recognise the growing need to evolve as the NHS, to not only interact with the power of poetry and creative artforms as a form of healing but also to advance the NHS into a more digital landscape. In all, we believe that art and poetry have the power to heal in new and meaningful ways, and we want to create space for poetry to move and connect people within these environments.
Can you share a little about the project you are working on and why you feel it is particularly bold or imaginative?
Our project explores how poetry and digital expression can come together to enhance wellbeing in healthcare settings. We want to transform poetry into interactive digital experiences that people can engage with while waiting for appointments, collecting prescriptions, or resting at home.
Both patients and care givers could take part, as wellbeing and mental health affect everyone. Using apps or QR codes on benches, prescriptions, or medicine labels, users could listen to or co-create poems that reflect their emotions and experiences. For example, capsules or prescription labels could contain a short uplifting poem, tailored to support emotional needs that can also be explored further online.
We also imagine physical movable fixtures where poetry is paired with an interactive element to create immersive and uplifting moments. It feels bold and imaginative because it blends community voices, creativity, and technology in a way that reimagines how poetry can comfort, connect, and heal within healthcare spaces.
How do you believe fostering digital creativity can contribute to the cultural landscape of the Black Country?
Digital poetic creativity can amplify the Black Country’s rich cultural identity by making it more accessible, dynamic, and relevant to this generation. It opens new ways for storytelling, collaboration, and visibility, particularly for underrepresented voices. By embracing digital tools, we can preserve local stories while reimagining them for new generations.
Embedding digital creativity within healthcare also transforms how care is experienced. It introduces adaptive approaches which are centred around people in all walks of life, that complement routine clinical care and help patients and clinicians connect in more meaningful ways.
Digital formats bring scalability, sustainability, and accessibility. They allow us to reach wider audiences in cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways, while adapting creativity to meet local needs. We have the option of being flexible and personalised, so patient journeys are more engaging and richer. This is a timely opportunity to align with NHS priorities and to integrate digital creativity within Integrated Care Systems, Integrated Neighbourhood Teams, and the evolving NHS Healthcare Plan.
What has been the most valuable lesson or insight you have gained from the mentoring and advice sessions?
The most valuable insight has been the importance of communicating our creative vision with clarity, especially when working with digital formats within a large organisation. The mentoring sessions have helped us refine our ideas, understand our audiences more deeply, and think strategically about impact and sustainability.
Particularly as we were paired as a group, the mentoring sessions have helped us understand how to navigate as a group and it has been a real strength. Dr. Dave and Sandeep applied separately from Simone, but through the mentoring we understand how our visions naturally complement each other.
Dr. Dave and Sandeep bring their deep understanding of the NHS, combined with their passion for art and creativity, while Simone offers a fresh perspective from outside healthcare settings. This mix of experience and viewpoint has helped us see new possibilities and shape a more rounded and inclusive vision.
The experience has been empowering and has encouraged us to push boundaries and explore ideas we might not have considered before.
In what ways do you think Black Country Digital Firsts can amplify diverse voices and perspectives?
We feel Black Country Digital Firsts can truly help diverse voices be heard by offering funding, mentorship, and a supportive platform. The programme paired us together, which has been inspiring. We may never have met otherwise, but working together has allowed us to combine our different experiences and perspectives in ways that strengthen our creative vision.
The programme encourages experimentation and storytelling that reflects the richness and variety of the Black Country. Digital tools give us the chance to reach even more people, in different languages and through different ways of accessing content, helping ensure a wider range of voices and experiences are seen, shared, and celebrated.
How do you now envision the role of technology in enhancing your creative practice going forward?
We now see technology as a key enabler in our creative practice. It opens up exciting possibilities for immersive poetry experiences, combining visuals, sound, and interactive collaboration. Celebrating and working with the digital landscape allows us to reach wider audiences, make our work more engaging, and respond creatively to different contexts. Technology also gives us new ways to measure impact and adapt our practice, ensuring our work continues to connect, inspire, and support people in meaningful ways.
What advice would you give to other creatives in the region who are considering applying for funding and support?
Our advice to other creatives in the region would be to be bold and authentic in your application. Share what makes your idea unique and how it connects to the community. Do not be afraid to ask for support. The mentorship can be a game changer in developing your vision. Most importantly, embrace the opportunity to experiment and grow. Programmes like Black Country Digital Firsts are designed to support risk-taking and innovation, so be confident in your creativity and unafraid to explore new possibilities.
Black Country Digital Firsts is a unique partnership between Creative Black Country and The Space that aims to build digital creative confidence, inspire excellence in the area, foster digital creativity, commission artists, and offer creative support via mentoring and advice sessions.