Posted Aug 29, 2025
Réalta has announced an open call for artists of all arts disciplines to submit proposals for its Arts + Health Research + Development Residency 2025. The deadline for submission of applications is Monday 22 September 2025. Further details, including how to apply, can be found here The Réalta Arts + Health Research + Development Residency is funded by the Arts Council. This exciting opportunity will provide the successful applicant with the chance to research and develop their arts + health practice during a one-month period of exploration and development based at the Réalta Centre for Arts + Health, University Hospital Waterford (UHW). Throughout the residency, the artist will have space to test ideas, explore new approaches and begin shaping the early stages of a project in an acute hospital setting, working creatively in collaboration with the hospital community. The artist will have access to a dedicated studio space, a larger multi-use studio and the Réalta Arts + Health Library. The Réalta team will be available to offer support and mentoring throughout the residency, as needed. In addition, the artist will have the opportunity to shadow some of the Waterford Healing Arts programmes at UHW. A full list of these programmes can be found here. The fee for the residency is €3000. Photo: Artist Jennie O’Neill at University Hospital Waterford. Photo by Keith...
Posted Aug 19, 2025
“I don’t want to rip the skies wide open, I just want my song to be heard” (Corina Duyn) August 14th, 2025 was a very special day. On that day, Corina Duyn, Artist in Care, donated her archive “Little Wings” to our Réalta Arts + Health Library. We are deeply honoured to accept this invaluable resource, which spans over 30 years of Corina’s practice, and includes artworks, images, films, notebooks, diaries, press clippings, and countless other intriguing items. In addition to her boundless creativity, Corina’s attention to detail and her clarity of thought is evident in how meticulously she has recorded her process and catalogued her work. Her generosity and bravery in sharing her innermost thoughts and her methodology are no surprise to us and to anyone who knows Corina, but will surely be a revelation to anyone who is yet to discover this extraordinary artist. Most of Corina’s work reflects her own life and living with ME but, despite decades of challenging health, it is clear from “Little Wings” that she has never lost her belief in the power of art to lift, to sustain and to transform lives. We are thrilled to fulfil Corina’s wishes and to open “Little Wings” to any artist, healthcare professional or arts + health practitioner who would like to visit our library in our Centre for Arts + Health and spend time exploring this beautiful and inspiring gift. To book your place, please email info@realta.ie indicating your preferred date and time. The available times are Monday-Thursday 9.30am-5pm and Friday 9.30am-1pm. Thank you, Corina. Additional Info: Read more about Corina and her work...
Posted Jul 8, 2025
Réalta is delighted to announce a number of upcoming arts and health training opportunities for artists, healthcare professionals, and arts and health managers. These events aim to inspire, build skills, and support best practice across the sector. Articulating Boundaries – Friday, 10 October For artists already working in healthcare settings, this programme will support artists to develop a deeper understanding of their practice, better decision-making around the scope of their work, and practical guidance around managing expectations. Led by artist and art therapist Lucy Hyland, this professional development workshop takes place in person at the Réalta Centre for Arts + Health, University Hospital Waterford. Checking In – Tuesday, 4 November For anyone working in, or interested in, arts and health. Join us for Checking In, Réalta’s online gathering of the arts and health community in Ireland. This event will spotlight some of the most innovative and impactful work happening across the country, offering insights and inspiration from leading practitioners. Experience: An Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person – Thursday, 4 December For artists and arts practitioners interested in working with older people in an arts and health context. This intensive learning programme will feature presentations by some of the most experienced and inspiring practitioners working in this specialised field of practice. Presented online by Réalta in partnership with Age & Opportunity. Réalta is the national resource organisation dedicated to developing arts + health in Ireland. Réalta seeks to increase understanding and support for arts and health, and to embed the arts into healthcare provision in Ireland through training programmes; providing information, mentoring and advice; supporting networking, and...
Posted Jul 7, 2025
Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts is currently seeking to recruit an Assistant Administrator and an Art Installer to join its team. Both roles come under the Community Employment Scheme and are based at the Réalta Centre for Arts + Health at University Hospital Waterford (UHW). This is a great opportunity to work in a vibrant, forward-thinking national arts and health organisation, and to gain valuable and rewarding experience in supporting the delivery of arts programmes in a hospital setting. Applicants must be eligible for Community Employment and applications should be submitted by email only to claire.meaney@realta.ie. The deadline for receipt of applications has been extended until Friday 8 August 2025 at 1pm. Full job descriptions are avaiable here: Assistant Administrator Art Installer The Assistant Administrator will assist with all administrative tasks to ensure the smooth running of the organisation. The Art Installer has responsibility for the maintenance of the Art Collection at UHW and the installation of art exhibitions. Together, these roles contribute to Réalta’s mission, to support the delivery and presentation of high-quality arts experiences in healthcare settings. As the national resource organisation for arts + health in Ireland, Réalta seeks to increase understanding and support for arts and health, and to embed the arts into healthcare provision in Ireland through training programmes; providing information, mentoring and advice; supporting networking, and engaging with the HSE and other policy makers. Réalta manages the Waterford Healing Arts programmes and the information hub artsandhealth.ie and is core funded by the Arts Council and the HSE. Réalta is an independent, registered charity, in operation for over 30 years. The Waterford Healing Arts programmes bring...
Posted Jul 4, 2025
“People living in Ireland have access to creative and cultural activity as part of a holistic health journey throughout the life course, supporting better health and wellbeing outcomes and enriching the creative and artistic landscape.” Vision statement, Strategic Action Plan for Arts and Health (2025) Réalta is delighted to welcome the publication of Ireland’s first Strategic Action Plan for Arts and Health (2025) by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport (Creative Ireland), the Department of Health (Healthy Ireland/Sláintecare), the HSE, and the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon. This Strategic Action Plan represents a significant step forward in recognising the vital role of arts and creativity in supporting public health and wellbeing. The Strategic Action Plan sets out the rationale for a joint policy approach, and outlines the steps involved in building an arts and health policy partnership in Ireland, beginning with the Memorandum of Understanding in December 2020 between the participating bodies, before setting out its clear and inclusive vision and six strategic objectives: Policy – To articulate a joint policy position on arts and health in Ireland and ensure co-ordinated input to international policy making. Evidence – To establish a research and evaluation framework for arts and health in Ireland to build the evidence base for sustainable project design and funding. Capacity – To provide training and support to equip creative and healthcare professionals to work together to embed creative and cultural activity in the health service in Ireland. Delivery – To prioritise suitable projects or pilot initiatives and design sustainable delivery mechanisms for their scaling. Governance – To design and implement governance and reporting arrangements to support a...
