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Connecting with Patient ExperienceParticipation – The Basics

Siobhán Clancy with Emma Eager

Participation – The Basics has been devised by Siobhán Clancy, Artist in Residence on Helium’s Fireflies Project at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and a Lead Artist on Helium’s Two Suitcases community film project, with Emma Eager, Helium Arts’ Project Manager.

What does participation look like in a healthcare setting? Health settings pose unique challenges to participation. We advise artists working in these settings to carefully consider potential barriers to participation. These barriers might be physical, social, or psychological so be prepared to improvise ways of overcoming them during the project development stage and on site. A core part of an artist’s role is creative problem-solving around creating the conditions for cultural experiences.

For Helium Arts, participation is an invitation and the invitation places the child’s ideas, interests and passions at the heart of the work. An understanding of the many ways the healthcare environment can impact on creative engagement is vital. In the following sections, we have attempted to offer some insights and tips that will help you to develop this understanding. Key to your success is a partnership approach with the healthcare provider from the outset. This includes establishing a good rapport and structuring regular exchanges where you can discuss both the practical and aspirational aspects of the work you propose to do.

1. Getting Started

2. Identifying potential barriers to participation

3. Navigating Environmental Constraints

4. General tips for infection control

5. Connecting with the person

6. Stay Healthy Yourself!

7. Documenting and Sharing

8. What do we mean by collaboration?