Posted Oct 23, 2024
Réalta is excited to announce our upcoming virtual event, Checking In 2024. This online gathering of the arts and health community in Ireland, will take place on Tuesday 12 November from 11am – 1pm. Supported by the Arts Council and the HSE, Checking In is designed to showcase examples of some of the most creative and innovative work devised by leading arts and health practitioners in the post-pandemic era. Open to healthcare professionals, arts practitioners and anyone interested in learning more about the exciting field of arts and health, Checking In is free but advance registration is essential. Further details here EVENT OUTLINE 11am-12pm Part 1: Musical Warm-up with Sandra Collins, Healing Sounds musician with Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts, followed by leading examples of current arts + health practice, including: – Dandelion Clocks: Public Art at Children’s Health Ireland, with Mary Grehan, Public Art Curator. – Hearth: Visual artist and musician Breda Mayock presents a project bringing art into the homes of isolated older adults in County Mayo – The Power of Drama: Theatre and film maker Gillian Grattan shares her practice on the Iontas Arts + Mental Health Programme in Waterford – What’s going on? Alex Cothren and Tully Barnett from Flinder’s University, South Australia spotlight the latest arts + health projects from around the world 12pm-1pm Part 2: – Following a short break, all attendees who wish to do so will have the opportunity to Meet the Presenters to continue the conversation with a speaker of their choice, and to network with their peers, in virtual break-out rooms. Checking In 2024 will conclude at 1pm. Checking In 2024...
Posted Oct 18, 2024
Réalta was delighted to be one of 22 international Arts + Health organisations featured in a new Australian study. This research explores what drives momentum in arts and health globally and how organisations contribute to this progress. Key findings include: A strong evidence base for arts and health, though translating this evidence into action remains a challenge. The importance of diversifying the workforce in Arts + Health. The need to connect the various strands of arts and health work worldwide. The study gathers insights from a diverse range of organisations, including research groups, national networks, and nonprofits from regions such as Australia, Nigeria, Finland, the UK, and Japan. It explores their origins, key successes, challenges faced, and how different countries are advancing the field of arts and health. One highlight from the study is Réalta’s annual flagship event, ‘Check Up Check In’, which plays a crucial role in fostering national connections within the arts and health sector. Claire Meaney, Director of Réalta, emphasised the value of these gatherings: “There’s simply no substitute for the human connection involved in physically coming together—to share, exchange, inspire, and reconnect with our peers, colleagues, and friends.” The study noted that such events fill a critical gap in many regions, underscoring their importance in advancing the sector. Speaking about Réalta’s involvement in the report, Claire Meaney added, “Réalta is honoured to be part of this international dialogue and remains committed to advancing the arts and health sector in Ireland and beyond. There is fantastic work being achieved both at home and abroad, and we continue to advocate for and support the growth of arts...
Posted Oct 14, 2024
Speakers announced for Experience 2024: An Introduction to Arts, Health & the Older Person – Keynote Speaker Dr Trudy Meehan The speakers for Experience 2024: An Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person have been announced, with a reminder that the deadline for applications is Thursday 31 October. This one-day learning programme for artists and arts practitioners of all disciplines takes place on Thursday 5 December at Limerick City Gallery of Art. The exciting line-up of speakers includes Dr Trudy Meehan, Clinical Psychologist, with a specialty in the Psychiatry of Later Life; dancer and choreographer Mary Nunan; composer and musician Justin Grounds; dementia specialist Sarah Cairns; artists Caroline Schofield, Marie Brett and Joanna Hopkins; dance artist Katy Hewison; Dr Tara Byrne and Brian Dooney of Age & Opportunity, and Claire Meaney of Réalta. Over the course of the day, Experience 2024 will aim to outline the essential elements involved in working with older people in an arts and health context. Experience 2024 is presented by Age & Opportunity, the national organisation working to enable the best quality of life for us all as we age, and Réalta, the national resource organisation dedicated to developing arts + health in Ireland. Places are limited to 20 and cost €30.00 each, including a hot lunch. The application deadline is Thursday 31 October. Experience 2024 is funded by the Arts Council and the HSE, with support from Limerick City and County Council Arts Office and Limerick City Gallery of Art. This is the fourth year of Experience, which was devised in 2021 in response to the need for more training and practical orientation for...
Posted Jul 15, 2024
Medicine will meet music at the Irish Doctors Orchestra’s special Fundraising Concert to take place at the SETU Arena on Sunday 29 September at 4.30pm. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts programmes at University Hospital Waterford. Under the baton of well-known Waterford musician and conductor Liam Daly, the concert will feature music from the opera Maritana by Waterford composer William Wallace, Concerto in F major for Two Bassoons by Johann Baptist Vanhal and Symphony No. 7 by Antonin Dvorak, in addition to a traditional Irish element, courtesy of the Waterford Harp Ensemble of Music Generation Waterford. Tickets (€20/€10/€5) are now on sale. To book, click here Announcing details of the concert, Dr Julia O’Leary from the Irish Doctors Orchestra said “We are very excited to be performing at the SETU Arena in September and we’re especially thrilled to be performing Maritana by William Wallace in his home place of Waterford. We’re also delighted to be joined by young musicians from the Waterford Harp Ensemble of Music Generation Waterford for this concert. The Irish Doctors Orchestra is a unique gathering of medics who love to play classical music and what better purpose could there be than to raise funds for the fantastic organisation that is Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts. Many of our medical colleagues have told us about the wonderful work of the Waterford Healing Arts programme at UHW, easing patients’ worries through the arts, and softening the clinical space with the hospital’s stunning art collection. This is a perfect fit for us and we can’t wait to perform in Waterford.” Claire Meaney, Director of...
Posted Jul 11, 2023
Réalta, the national body for arts and health in Ireland, invites applications from suitably qualified individuals / organisations to develop and produce guidelines on pay and conditions for arts and health projects. The production of the guidelines is a partnership initiative between Réalta and Arts and Health Co-ordinators Ireland (AHCI), with funding from The Arts Council. AHCI and Réalta are committed to advancing professional standards for arts and health projects in recognition of and accordance with the Arts Council’s Paying the Artist Policy (2020), which states that ‘best practice, not minimum standards, should apply to remuneration and contracting of artists across all artforms and disciplines.’ This project has been initiated in response to a knowledge gap in arts and health provision concerning pay and conditions for freelance artists and creative producers. The guidelines will address best practice in relation to pay and conditions for different programme models and will encompass a range of healthcare contexts. The successful Tenderer will work under the direction of Réalta and AHCI to determine content for the guidelines. It is envisaged that the successful Tenderer will undertake online focus groups and a survey to gather insights from artists and creative producers working across different art forms, in addition to desk research on relevant legislation and policies. Timeline & Budget Interested applicants should be available to begin work on the guidelines by mid-August, with final copy for the guidelines submitted no later than 18 December 2023. Tenders to a maximum of €8500 will be considered, inclusive of VAT and all expenses. Tender proposals should be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday 25 July 2023. Application Process Details...
