News
Cloudlands, an artist in residence programme produced by Helium for teenagers in hospital, will continue for a second year at University Hospital Galway thanks to a private donation through the Community Foundation for Ireland. Artist Emma Fisher will collaborate with young people at the hospital over a nine-month period to develop new artworks based on their ideas, interests and experiences. The project will run until July 2014.
Cloudlands has been developed by Helium for young people aged 12-18 who have to spend long periods of time in hospital, often in wards with much younger children and with little in the way of creative stimulation.
Tina Roche, CEO of The Community Foundation for Ireland, said of the funding: ‘We are delighted to support Cloudlands on behalf of one of our private donors. It is a great example of how working with children in hospital through the arts can bring so much joy to those concerned.’
Dr. Shaun O’Keeffe, Chairperson of Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust, stated: ‘We are pleased to learn of the generous donation through the Community Foundation for Ireland for the Cloudlands Galway Project. It is through this generosity that Helium can continue to develop quality arts programmes for teens in Galway University Hospitals.’
Cloudlands Year 2 is also taking place at Temple Street Children’s University, Dublin, and a shared online platform will enable young people in both hospitals to connect and share their work. Artists Emma Fisher and Rachel Tynan will further develop creative technology platforms during Year 2 and a public online gallery space curated by Katy Fitzpatrick will display some of the artwork created.
Documentation from the beyond the box exhibition which was inspired by the artists’ creative collaborations with teenagers on Year 1 of the project is available to view here: http://helium.ie/wordpress/index.php/beyond-the-box-images-and-stories-from-our-2013-exhibition/
Cloudlands at University Hospital Galway is produced by Helium Arts and is funded by the Community Foundation for Ireland through a private donor. Cloudlands Galway is further supported by the Arts Council and Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust.
