Réalta, the National Body for Arts + Health in Ireland, has announced details of two new opportunities to join their team.  The roles of Communications Manager and Music Co-ordinator represent exciting opportunities to work in rewarding positions within a progressive organisation, making a difference to patients, family members and healthcare staff, and contributing to Réalta’s growth and development over the coming years.  Further information and application details are available from the following links: Communications Manager info Music Co-ordinator info The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 25 May 2023. Further details are available below and from 051 842664 or wha@hse.ie The new role of Communications Manager will see the successful candidate taking responsibility for communicating Réalta’s work to its target audiences to support its vision and mission.  A key member of the Réalta team, the Communications Manager will work closely with management and staff to design and deliver integrated communications for the organisation to optimise visibility, to consolidate the organisation’s reputation at the forefront of arts and health in Ireland and to increase awareness and understanding of arts and health practice and benefits.  The role requires excellent organisational and communication skills, strong writing, editing and digital marketing skills, communications management experience and a keen interest in the transformational potential of arts and health. The Music Co-ordinator is an essential member of the Waterford Healing Arts team and will have responsibility for the delivery of the Healing Sounds live music programme in healthcare and community contexts in Waterford, in addition to contributing to the future development of the music and health programme at Waterford Healing Arts.  The role...

A short film telling the story of Réalta, from its origins in Waterford Healing Arts in 1993 to the present day, was screened at our official launch on 3 March 2023.  Click here to view the film and scroll down to read the story. The Story of Réalta Dr Abdul Bulbulia first suggested the idea of introducing art into Waterford Regional Hospital in the early 1990s. At the time, the role of the arts in the hospital environment was a completely new concept in Ireland, but was already being explored in the UK. With the support of hospital management, Dr Bulbulia, along with Mary Baxter, set up a committee to oversee the commission of the first artwork in the hospital: Quintess-ometry, by Remco de Fouw. This was the first public art commission in an acute hospital in Ireland.  The committee went on to establish Waterford Healing Arts Trust in 1993. Over the following decades, Waterford Healing Arts Trust deepened its roots and expanded its reach, developing the hospital art collection into over 600 artworks today, and growing the participatory programme to include art making, music, creative writing and storytelling.  Through these programmes, with the support of many funders, the team of artists, musicians and staff seek to ‘make now better’: to lift people’s spirits, promote connection, and remind people that beauty still exists, even in difficult times. Meanwhile, from its dedicated Centre for Arts + Health on the campus of what is now University Hospital Waterford, Waterford Healing Arts Trust also began to expand its programme into the national sphere.  This took a significant step forward in 2011, when...

The establishment of Réalta, the National Body for Arts + Health in Ireland, puts Ireland at the forefront of the global arts and health movement, according to Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organisation.  Mr Bailey was speaking at the official launch by Waterford Healing Arts Trust of Réalta on Friday 3 March 2023 in Waterford.  Other speakers included Prof. Kevin Rafter, Chairperson of the Arts Council, Grace O’Sullivan, MEP and Patron of Waterford Healing Arts, Catherine Drea, Chairperson, Réalta and Claire Meaney, Director of Réalta. The launch was attended by a wide range of stakeholders involved and interested in arts and health in Ireland, including healthcare professionals, artists, participants, arts and health practitioners, funders and policy makers.  Chairperson of Réalta Catherine Drea welcomed guests and thanked all stakeholders, past and present, saying “It takes a village” to create an organisation such as Réalta.  Guests were then shown a video illustrating the development of Réalta, from the original establishment of Waterford Healing Arts Trust in 1993, to the beginning of the organisation’s national programme 15 years ago, the setting up of the resource website artsandhealth.ie in 2011 and the development and launch of Réalta in 2023.  Claire Meaney, Director of Réalta, then outlined Waterford Healing Arts Trust’s work with business planning consultant Ahmad Abu-el-ata in developing a business strategy for Réalta, and with branding agency Totem – based in Dungarvan, County Waterford – to develop the Réalta brand as well as the new logo for Waterford Healing Arts (re-branded from Waterford Healing Arts Trust). Officially launching Réalta, Mr Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead with...

Waterford Healing Arts Trust is pleased to announce the forthcoming launch of Réalta, the national body for arts and health in Ireland.  Réalta is being established to strengthen the arts and health sector in Ireland and provide a central resource for all those interested and involved in arts and health.  The launch will take place this Friday 3 March at 11am, at the HSE-RCSI Educational Facility, University Hospital Waterford (UHW), with guest speaker Mr Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead at the World Health Organisation (WHO).  Other guest speakers on the day include Prof. Kevin Rafter, Chairperson of the Arts Council, Grace O’Sullivan, MEP and Patron of Waterford Healing Arts and Catherine Drea, Chairperson, Waterford Healing Arts.  Further details are available from 051 842664 / what@hse.ie Réalta will 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 will develop and deliver a range of arts and health training programmes for artists, healthcare professionals and arts and health managers; provide access to information, mentoring and advice; support networking of arts and health practitioners; and engage with the HSE and other policy makers to increase understanding and support of arts and health practice.  Réalta will be based at the Centre for Arts + Health at University Hospital Waterford. Waterford Healing Arts Trust has undertaken the setting up of this national resource organisation in light of its experience, leadership and credibility in arts and health practice in Waterford over the last 30 years, and nationally since 2008.  The establishment of Réalta is based on Waterford Healing...

Experience 2022: An Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person, an online learning programme, has been announced by Age & Opportunity, Waterford Healing Arts Trust and Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. Taking place over three mornings from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 December, this programme aims to outline the essential elements involved in working with older people in an arts and health context, and will feature presentations by some of the most experienced and inspiring practitioners working in this specialised field of practice. Places are limited to 20 and cost €20.00 each, which covers attendance on all three days. Further details and booking information is available from www.bealtaine.ie/news/ and from arts@ageandopportunity.ie Experience 2022: An Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person is funded by the Arts Council and the HSE. This is the second year of Experience, which was devised in 2021 in response to the need for more training and practical orientation for arts practitioners who already have experience of participatory work in a health context, and who are interested in developing their practice to include working with older people. Participants last year described the programme as “inspiring and beneficial”, “uplifting”, “insightful”, “useful”, “important”, “essential”, “enjoyable” and “excellent”, with people highlighting the expertise and passion of the speakers, and the opportunity to interact with fellow artists. In a programme which strives once again to be inspiring and pragmatic, participants will gain an overview of approaches and ways of thinking in this rewarding area of work, practical information and advice for different art forms and disciplines, valuable insight from artists, healthcare professionals and arts and health participants,...

Call to Artists Waterford Healing Arts Trust invites proposals for 2023–2025 Exhibition Programme at University Hospital Waterford Waterford Healing Arts Trust (WHAT) invites artists of all art forms and disciplines to submit proposals for its exhibition programme 2023–2025 at University Hospital Waterford (UHW). Successful artists will be paid a fee of €450.00 to exhibit, in addition to expenses such as travel, transport and workshop fees etc., where relevant. Group exhibition proposals are also welcome. To apply, artists should complete and send the relevant application form, along with three images and their artist CV to whatartshealth@gmail.com by Tuesday, 31 January 2023. Further information is available from WHAT Project Coordinator, Aisling Kennedy: aislingC.kennedy@hse.ie or 051 842664. The WHAT exhibition programme at UHW is a means of engaging the hospital community of staff, patients and visitors in contemporary art and arts practices, while also being an opportunity for artists to showcase their work within an atypical exhibition space. Exhibitions typically run for eight weeks, with scope to engage the hospital community in collaborative/ participatory arts experiences in tandem with the exhibition. Speaking at the announcement of the Open Call, Claire Meaney, Director of Waterford Healing Arts Trust said “We’re delighted to announce this open call inviting artists of all art forms to submit their proposals for our exhibition programme 2023-2025 at University Hospital Waterford. Through art, we aim to bring some wonder and magic to the hospital, to soften the clinical environment and humanise the space, so if you have an idea that you think could be realised in this context, we would love to hear from you.” She went on to...