Arts + Health

NI Mental Health Arts Festival 2025 – CathARTSis

The NI Mental Health Arts Festival is back for its 11th edition, with the festival theme of CathARTSis. The festival aims to challenge the stigma associated with talking about our mental health and wellbeing, celebrating the significant role of our creativity, self-expression and the arts as a catalyst for change.

Interpreting this year’s theme, Catharsis refers to ‘the release of emotions through the process of creative expression, leading to a sense of emotional renewal.’ Many of us know firsthand from lived experience the power of the arts to provide safe sanctuary, a place to shrink and grow, that can help transform ourselves as well as our communities. The arts can provide a catalyst for change, finding release, resolution and renewal in challenging times.

Venues across Northern Ireland will host a diverse programme of visual and performing arts, forums for dialogue and creative exchange, talks, tours and workshops, poetry, spoken word, comedy, film, music, and dance.

The programme includes creative practice that challenges stigma and provokes debate, providing insights into how artists have channelled their lived experience to inspire others. The festival continues to champion both emerging artists as well as established artists, side by side.

NI Mental Health Arts Festival Symposia Belfast & Derry-Londonderry
NIMHAF Symposia return to Belfast & Derry – both UNESCO Learning Regions. The opening symposium takes place in Belfast on Friday 9 May at The MAC. The closing symposium is on Tuesday 20 May at The Guildhall in Derry-Londonderry.

These free symposia will feature keynote speakers from contexts including the arts, mental health and wellbeing, the voluntary and community sector, and education, including significant learning from those with lived experience informing academic research. One of the speakers will be Emma Eager, Project Co-ordinator of artsandhealth.ie.

The symposia will provide challenging and enlightening presentations, forums for dialogue and creative exchange, challenge stigma, and celebrate the power of creativity, self-expression and the arts upon our mental health and wellbeing.

Check out the Programme of Festival Events & Fringe Events for 2025 at www.nimhaf.org

Launch of Cavan Community Cinema: Special screening of Unspoken

Cavan Arts Festival is launching a new initiative titled Cavan Community Cinema with a special screening of Unspoken, followed by a discussion with director Alan Bradley and Dr. Fiona Flynn from Bodywhys: The Eating Disorder Association of Ireland.

Unspoken is a groundbreaking documentary exploring the hidden crisis of eating disorders among Irish men, sharing the deeply personal stories of Cormac, Eoin, and Daniel. This free event shines a light on one of Ireland’s most pressing, yet often overlooked, mental health issues, and the growing number of men silently suffering.

Admission is free but registration is required. Please register here:
https://forms.gle/L2eYv7tCpG2eB1wB9

Cavan Community Cinema
A bold new initiative that brings people together through the shared experience of film, Cavan Community Cinema is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Cavan Community Cinema will continue with screenings throughout the year in community spaces across the region, creating opportunities for storytelling, engagement, and artistic collaboration. We welcome interest from community groups, artists, and filmmakers who wish to be involved in this journey – whether through hosting screenings, suggesting films, or developing new creative projects. Cavan Community Cinema is more than just a cinema, it’s a space for connection, creativity, and conversation.

If you are interested in being part of the Cavan Community Cinema initiative, please reach out via cavanartsfestival.producer@gmail.com

Cavan Arts Festival runs from 15-18 May 2025, at various locations across Cavan Town. Check out this year’s line up at cavanartsfestival.ie

Call for EU Artists: Culture and Health – International Hosting Week in the Netherlands

Are you a European artist working at the intersection of culture and older persons care? As part of the Culture and Health Platform, co-funded by the EU, Kunstloc Brabant is welcoming five EU artists to the Netherlands for a five-day programme designed to explore the intersection of arts and older persons care. International Hosting Week is taking place from 19-24 June 2025.

The programme includes:

  • Visits to organisations to exchange and gain hands-on experience.
  • A shared dinner for informal networking and community-building.
  • A final presentation where both artists and participating organisations share their insights.

Opportunities for Participation
The programme offers a diverse and inspiring range of site visits and activities, tailored to the interests and expertise of the participating artists. Some activities will be attended collectively by all five artists, while other sessions will be customized to provide deeper engagement in specific areas of interest.

This week is designed to foster knowledge exchange, hands-on learning, and the opportunity to share expertise with Dutch institutions working in the same field.

For more information on Kunstloc Brabant’s EU-wide call and how to apply, click here.

Deadline for applications 
Applications are open until 16 May 2025.

Culture And Health Platform
Led by Culture Action Europe, the Culture And Health Platform is a four-year transformative initiative designed to support over 200 European emerging artists working at the intersection of culture, health, care, education and social sectors. By providing grants, mobility and networking opportunities and visibility of their work, the initiative aims to highlight the vital role of culture in fostering health, well-being and social innovation across Europe.
www.cultureandhealth.eu

Culture and Health Platform

The Town That Has Nurtured My Dreams: Arts for Health at Fastnet Film Festival

A new film created by the residents of Skibbereen Community Hospital will have its debut screening at Schull’s annual Fastnet Film Festival this May. Starting life as a song-writing project through Arts for Health Partnership Programme, The Town That Has Nurtured My Dreams has become a celebration of Skibbereen, and the stories and creativity of the people who call it home.

The project grew out of the sharing of favourite songs that happens weekly as part of Arts for Health sessions with composer and musician Justin Grounds. Justin shared his experience of the making process:

The residents decided it was high time for a new song for the town which celebrates all the fabulous places and wonderful new families who have come back to make it their home. Josie Mackle, a member of the group and keen poet, set about composing a poem about the history of the town, and then the group began their songwriting process by choosing some of their favourite lines from the poem, and mixing them with ideas from their favourite places – such that the song is like taking a tour around the town, from Fields Coffee Shop to West Cork Hotel!

Visual artist Sharon Dipity, who also works as part of the Arts for Health team at the Community Hospital, produced beautiful line drawings with the residents, reflecting the places mentioned. Additionally, Sharon helped with filming and recording performances for the film with Justin.

The Town That Has Nurtured My Dreams is a tribute to the residents’ creativity, with animations, drawings, poetry reading, musical soundscape and singing all woven together.

It will be screening as part of the Local Interest category at Fastnet Film Festival on Sunday 25 May. Visit www.fastnetfilmfestival.com for more information.

This project is made possible through the Arts for Health Partnership of Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, Cork County Council, and Cork Education and Training Board.

Arts for Health West Cork

Arts for Health provides a managed arts programme for older adults accessing healthcare services across West Cork. The programme takes place in widespread, rural locations including Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, five Day Care Centres, five Community Hospitals, Bantry General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Unit, in community settings and more recently, at home. Managed by Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, Arts for Health runs all year round and is delivered by a team of professional artists from different disciplines.

www.artsforhealthwestcork.com

Workshop – Producing in a Collaborative Context with Kath Gorman

Are you a self-producing artist? Or a new or emerging producer who wants to work in socially engaged contexts? Or from a community project wanting to know more about producing?

Then join Create for a day-long workshop on 10 June with experienced producer Kath Gorman of Promenade. The workshop will examine:

  • The roles and responsibilities of what producers do in the collaborative arts space
  • The key skills and qualities needed as a producer for developing collaborative projects
  • The differences between producing events and collaborative projects.

Kath will take you through the nuts and bolts of producing, such as how to get your project idea off the ground, budgeting, best practice in building and managing relationships with communities of interest/place as well as sourcing potential partners. She will also provide case studies and real life examples from her years as a producer – both the positives and the challenges.

There are limited places for this workshop, and application is essential.

Deadline for applications: 13 May, 4pm

Learn more and apply here: https://www.create-ireland.ie/activity/producing-in-a-collaborative-context-with-kath-gorman/

Image shown: Cork Midsummer Festival: La Cocina Publica by Teatro Container. Photo credit: Jed Niezgoda.

Image shown: Cork Midsummer Festival: La Cocina Publica by Teatro Container. Photo credit: Jed Niezgoda.

iScience Call for Papers – Transdisciplinary Approaches to Arts and Health

iScience invites submissions for a special issue, ‘Transdisciplinary Approaches to Arts and Health.’

This issue explores the dynamic intersection of arts and health, focusing on how creative practices contribute to clinical, public health, and societal wellbeing. By examining transdisciplinary methodologies, this issue aims to foster a deeper understanding of how arts-based interventions can support health promotion, disease prevention, and the management of chronic conditions while addressing gaps in access and policy.

The scope includes but is not limited to:

  • Clinical applications of the arts
  • Public health and community wellbeing
  • Neuroaesthetics and health
  • Policy, practice, and equity

Guest editors:
Agustin Ibanez, Professor in Global Brain Health, Trinity College Dublin
Nisha Sajnani, Co-Director, Jameel Arts & Health Lab
Jill Sonke, Director of Research Initiatives, Center for Arts in Medicine, University of Florida
Dominic Campbell, Director, Creative Aging International
Pier Luigi Sacco, Professor of Biobehavioral Economics, University of Chieti-Pescara
Elisabeth Bahr, Postdoctoral Research Associate, NYU Jameel Arts & Health Lab

Deadline for submissions:
26 August 2025

Further information and how to apply:
https://www.cell.com/iscience/special-issues/call-for-papers/transdisciplinary-approaches-to-arts-and-health

Creative Connection: How the Arts can Tackle Loneliness – Webinar

How can we harness creativity to address loneliness in a meaningful way?

As part of the UK’s Creativity & Wellbeing Week 2025, The Tackling Loneliness Hub is a hosting a webinar to explore:

  • The role of the arts in reducing loneliness and social isolation
  • How arts policy and funding can support community-led solutions
  • The power of creative projects to engage and empower diverse communities
  • Real-world examples of arts initiatives tackling loneliness head-on.

This webinar will bring together experts from the arts, culture, and community sectors, including Arts Council England, Civil Society Consulting, London Arts & Health, and the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance.

Register here

Creativity and Wellbeing Week (19 – 25 May 2025) is a partnership between London Arts and Health and the Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance.
creativityandwellbeing.org.uk

Call for Submissions – The Role of Creative Health in Public Health

Submissions are invited for an upcoming special issue of the RSPH journal, Perspectives in Public Health, exploring ‘The Role of Creative Health in Public Health’.

A collaboration with the Arts Council England and the National Centre for Creative Health, submissions are welcomed from around the world, with priority given to those that focus on health inequalities.

Perspectives in Public Health is a bi-monthly peer-reviewed journal by the Royal Society for Public Health. This special issue seeks to platform current practice and research which demonstrates the value of collaboration between creative health and public health, by sharing work that supports the health of individuals and communities through policy-making, research, and preventative measures.

The editors are particularly interested in work that showcases practical ways of embedding creativity in public health – examples of what it looks like in practice and how other areas could learn from the great work already happening.

Diverse perspectives from researchers, practitioners, artists, and policymakers working at the intersection of creative health and public health are sought.

What type of articles will be accepted?
Articles for peer review, alongside “non-academic” submissions such as opinion pieces and editorials, and artwork submissions.

Timeframe
The deadline for submissions is 1 September 2025.
The issue will be published in January 2026.

How to apply
For information on criteria and how to apply see https://www.rsph.org.uk/static/49bd3310-bbbd-4d4c-a12728510251ee99/Creative-Health-Special-Issue-CFP.pdf

HEARTH documentary launch at National Museum of Ireland in Mayo

Hearth is a new documentary capturing the profound impact of bringing art directly into the homes of older people, offering a lifeline of creativity, connection and joy.

HeARTh – Art for Older People at Home – is a unique initiative that fosters creativity and human connection through weekly art workshops at participants’ homes. The project addresses the challenge of social isolation, demonstrating how artistic expression combats loneliness, uplifts the spirit, and enriches lives.

Now, a powerful documentary, directed by Mary Deely and Eamonn Dunne, brings this work to the screen, funded by the artsandhealth.ie Documentation Bursary 2024.

Hearth will premiere at the National Museum of Ireland – Turlough Park on 2 May 2025. Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary TD, will perform the official launch.

‘Through the filming of this project, we were lucky to witness first-hand just how wonderful the Hearth programme is—seeing older people and artists creating side by side in such a relaxed and genuine way. We hope the film captures some of what makes Hearth so special.’ – Mary Deely and Eamonn Dunne, Co-directors of Hearth

The HeARTh Project – Art for Older People at Home 

Founded in 2009 by artists Deirdre Walsh and Breda Mayock, Hearth connects professional artists with older people in Mayo. Each week, participants receive personal mentorship and high-quality art materials, enabling them to explore painting, drawing, and nature-inspired creativity – all in a comfortable, familiar environment.

‘Despite her mobility challenges, May painted with such ease. She had a collection of paintings that filled her with pride. May was deeply focused, with a clear goal in mind. She spoke about what painting meant to her: “It takes my mind off things—time goes by so quickly.” Her donkey painting was a marvel, it seemed to gaze out of the canvas. At that moment her confidence bloomed.’ – Deirdre Walsh, Hearth artist

There are six artists currently in the Hearth collective and 18 older people in Mayo are visited each week. Over the years Hearth has reached over 100 people throughout the county. The project is currently funded by Creative Ireland and supported by Mayo County Council Arts Service.

“There should be more of this—more activities that can occur in people’s houses when they can’t get out!” – Participant

“I hope Hearth goes from strength to strength and that other people can benefit from it. It’s an invaluable initiative and we, the family, are very grateful for it.” – Daughter of a participant

Hearth is more than just an arts programme – it’s a growing movement that champions the role of creativity in ageing. As it continues to evolve, the initiative empowers older people to express themselves, connect deeply with others and find renewed purpose through art. It’s a powerful reminder that growing older should never mean growing disconnected.

“We are thrilled that Hearth is the recipient of this year’s artsandhealth.ie Documentation Bursary Award. The resulting film beautifully tells the story of the project. Set against the spectacular rural landscape of Mayo, the film captures both the vastness of the area and the sense of isolation that people might experience. The participants are so generous in sharing their lives and love of artmaking. It’s a beautiful documentary — just like the project itself.” – Claire Meaney, Director of Réalta, Developing Arts + Health in Ireland.

Screenshot

Arts + Health Artist Bursaries 2025

The national arts and health website is offering two bursaries to artists in 2025, funded by the Arts Council and the HSE. The Artist Documentation Bursary invites artists to document a project being delivered with a health or social care community, with two awards available. The Emerging Artist Bursary is available for an early-career artist to reflect on their arts and health practice. Applications are now open for both bursaries with a closing date of Friday 6 June 2025.

artsandhealth.ie Artist Documentation Bursary 2025

Are you an artist delivering an arts and health project? Would you like to showcase the project to a larger audience?

Two bursaries worth €3000 each are available to individual artists or a group of artists working across any artform(s) to tell the story of an arts and health project they are delivering.

The bursary is applicable to the documentation of arts and health projects across all arts practice areas (participatory arts, performance arts, environmental enhancement) in the Republic of Ireland.

The purpose of this award is to support professional artists working in arts and health contexts to enhance their documentation practice. The bursary can be used to produce a short film / animation, audio work, publication or visual documentation about an arts and health project, for public viewing.

An endorsement from the health or social care provider must be included with the documentation proposal.

The artist documentation bursary aims to:

  • Showcase arts and health practice to national audiences;
  • Support artists to strengthen their documentation practice;
  • Raise awareness around the impact of arts and health practice;
  • Inspire artists, healthcare staff and health service users involved in arts and health projects.

The bursary cannot be used to engage a professional to document a project. Artists can allocate a portion of bursary funding to support skills development in documenting their practice, for example, through mentoring or training.

Application process 
Download the application form, eligibility criteria and FAQs here:
https://www.artsandhealth.ie/assets/uploads/2025/04/Application-form-artsandhealth.ie-artist-documentation-bursary-2025.docx

artsandhealth.ie Emerging Artist Bursary 2025 

Professional artists with an emerging arts and health practice are invited to apply for the artsandhealth.ie Emerging Artist Bursary 2025 to reflect on their practice.

The bursary is open to individual early-career artists working in any artform in the Republic of Ireland.

Early-career artists working with healthcare communities are not always afforded the same opportunities to reflect on and interrogate their practice as their more experienced peers. This bursary is purposely designed to provide artists with the headspace for reflective enquiry as they develop and shape their arts and health practice.

Learning that arises from the bursary will be shared with the wider arts and health community via artsandhealth.ie. How this learning is presented is at the discretion of the bursary awardee.

One bursary award of €2000 will be offered to the successful applicant.

Application process 
Download the application form, eligibility criteria and FAQs here:
https://www.artsandhealth.ie/assets/uploads/2025/04/Application-Form-artsandhealth.ie-Emerging-Artist-Bursary-2025.docx

CLOSING DATE
The closing date for both bursary awards is Friday, 6 June 2025 at 12 noon.

artsandhealth.ie is the national website for arts and health in Ireland, managed by Réalta, the national resource organisation dedicated to developing arts and health in Ireland. The artsandhealth.ie bursaries 2025 are funded by the HSE and the Arts Council.

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