Groundbreaking arts initiative to help people in Donegal deal with loss

A groundbreaking initiative involving the Irish Hospice Foundation, Cancer Care West, Artlink and the Regional Cultural Centre is to explore how exploring how creative compassionate communities and skilled professional therapists can work together to support people in grief and loss.

The Irish Hospice Foundation’s Arts and Creative Engagement programme was piloted as a response to the pandemic.  

The programme is now being used to develop better understanding between professionals in health, and professionals in creativity as the foundation for increasing compassionate communities.

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The pilot project for the progamme found that linking experienced artist-facilitators with a wider public in properly resourced sessions, initiated meaningful conversations on death, dying, and bereavement, while signposting other health-related services available locally for those in greater need.

The project is based on the view that people can help themselves with creativity and various professionals help people in other ways.  Better understanding should make it possible for both to better support those in need.

On January 20 and February 9 at the Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny, artists, crafters, cultural practitioners, art therapists, expressive therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, health care workers, link workers and people with a particular interest in this area are exploring different approaches.