Réalta, National Resource Organisation for Arts and Health

Réalta was established in 2023 as the national resource organisation dedicated to developing arts and health in Ireland, founded on decades of pioneering arts and health practice as Waterford Healing Arts Trust (established 1993) and the encyclopaedic knowledge gathered under artsandhealth.ie (established 2011). Réalta operates from The Centre for Arts & Health at University Hospital Waterford, the first dedicated physical centre for arts and health in the country.

Alongside its own dedicated programme of work, Réalta continues to manage the Waterford Healing Arts programme at UHW and other healthcare settings in Waterford, and the national resource website artsandhealth.ie.

Mission / Aims

Réalta’s mission is to lead the development of the arts and health sector in Ireland through support, promotion and advancement, and the demonstration of excellence in artistic delivery. Réalta aims to achieve this through three key pillars of focus: training and supports, sector development and inspiring practice.

Areas of activities

Training & Support
Réalta exists to illuminate health paths nationally by:

• Providing advice, mentoring and support to artists, arts practitioners and healthcare professionals involved in arts and health practice or starting out
• Hosting regular CPD talks and workshops
• Providing opportunities for peer-to-peer knowledge sharing through networking & events
• Delivering professional development programming in partnership with national agencies.

Sector Development
Our goal is to increase and improve awareness of the value of arts and health and advocate for the sector’s development. In particular, we inform / engage with government, policymakers and funders to ensure wider arts and health policy adoption and more effective local funding of its practice.

Inspiring Practice
We showcase and inspire arts and health practice through our ongoing management of Waterford Healing Arts and the national resource website, artsandhealth.ie.