Arts & Activity Centre
Established in 2001 to promote and explore the creative arts as a catalyst for healing and therapy. The centre provides our patients with a space to engage in the creative arts in a safe, peaceful, supportive and enjoyable environment.
What We Do
For people living with cancer, art can be a powerful tool to relieve anxieties and stress, increase self-esteem and self-confidence, and promote positive health and well-being. We offer a diverse range of art projects - from acrylic and watercolour painting to felt making and pottery. A monthly schedule of projects is displayed around the hospital or a member of staff at the centre can be contacted for details.
Every year, we complete several large group projects and hold guest workshops. We have also held creative writing workshops, musical sessions and movie afternoons in the past.
In 2009, art sessions were offered to staff of the hospital on a weekly basis. These sessions continue to be popular and offer a very enjoyable creative experience.
Since 2006, the centre has worked with patients to design Christmas Cards. This is now an annual project and continues to be very successful.
The centre works with patients every Christmas to create ‘clay angels’ for the main tree in the hospital. This ongoing project generates much laughter and allows for individual creative expression.
The centre has also taken part in an "Art in healthcare settings" exhibition organised by the HSE in 2005. The work of the centre also featured in the RTE TV programme "Capital D" in 2006.
Our annual newsletter, now in its fifth year, is included in the national database of arts and health publications. The centre is also registered with the HSE Arts Committee and continues to research and implement best practice arts and health policies.
The centre held its first large scale exhibition of patients’ work in the hospital in November 2008. It received great praise from both patients and staff.
Patients may drop into the centre at any time. The activities are structured to appeal to total beginners as well as patients with previous experience of arts and crafts. The staff at the centre aim to provide a relaxed atmosphere where patients can find fun, conversation, stimulation, space and peace for themselves, and also the opportunity to discover or revisit their artistic interests.
Displaying patients’ art is an important part of their therapy and a number of their artworks have been put on display in the hospital.
Additional Facilities for Patients
Our notice board provides information on events in Dublin galleries and art courses around the country.
For young patients we provide colouring books and paints, in addition to the other facilities at the centre.
Internet facilities, a colour photocopier and scanner are available at the centre. Our patio garden has been developed for patients' pleasure and relaxation.
We try our best to meet the needs of all the different and unique patients who come to the centre - always mindful that each one is special and individual.
Evening Session
The Wednesday evening session is from 6.30pm-8pm. This usually consists of an art workshop. Please consult the staff for updates.
Daily Activities
Crafts
- Pottery: terracotta, crayola, glass and tile painting, papier mache and plaster moulding
- Sculpture projects
- Glass engraving
- Mosaic
- Mixed media, lino cutting and monoprint, acrylic painting crafts, i.e. stones, pots etc
Textiles
- Silk painting
- Fabric painting on cotton, linen and t-shirts
- Knitting
- Crochet
- Felt making?Embroidery (hand or machine)
- Batik
- Shibori fabric dying
- Papermaking
Fine Arts
- Watercolours
- Oil colours
- Acrylics
- Drawing
Garden
- Patio garden to sit and relax in.
- Flower arranging class twice monthly.