Réalta, the national resource organisation dedicated to developing arts + health in Ireland, is delighted to announce visual artist Siobhán Clancy as the recipient of the Réalta Arts + Health Research + Development Residency 2025. Funded by the Arts Council, this residency supports artists from all disciplines to deepen and develop their arts + health practice through a focused period of research and creative exploration. Siobhan will be based at the Réalta Centre for Arts + Health at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) for the duration of the residency, which will run in two phases: from 8-12 December and 16 February to 06 March 2026.
Siobhán’s visual art practice focuses on community-building and justice through collaboration. While her current artistic focus is lived cancer experience, informed by her own treatment and recovery, Siobhán’s experience in arts and health spans over a decade of collaborative art with children and young people living with long term health conditions in arts, clinical and community health settings with Helium Arts. She has also co-developed arts actions, works and performances on reproductive health and justice. Siobhán earned a distinction in Arts and Health at Canterbury University in 2019.
During her residency, Siobhán will explore themes of identity and representation, shaped by her personal experience of cancer and inspired by regenerative approaches to climate action. She plans to engage with cancer care staff and patients through The Somnambulance, a programme of workshops, conversations and participatory activities around health, environment, the language of cancer, transformation and creativity. Siobhán will invite people to join her in exploring local lore and legend, and in looking at myth-making practices as tools for storytelling, stigma-busting, reclamation, nature connection and healing. Click here to find out more about The Somnambulance.
About Réalta
Réalta is Ireland’s national resource organisation for arts + health. Through its national programme, Réalta delivers training; provides information, mentoring and advice; supports networking; engages with the HSE and other policy makers to increase understanding and support for arts + health; and manages the national information hub artsandhealth.ie.
Locally, Réalta delivers the Waterford Healing Arts programmes, bringing music, visual art, creative writing and storytelling to patients at UHW and other healthcare settings.
For further information:
Réalta’s national work: www.realta.ie
Waterford Healing Arts programmes: www.waterfordhealingarts.com
All about Arts + Health: www.artsandhealth.ie
