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An image of two online participants. (boy and girl). The boy is dressed up as an art box and the girl is pinning lots of colourful artworks to the box.

Pictured at a photocall event to announce the upcoming Creativity Unlimited nationwide art showcase from Helium Arts are: (L-R) Alden Rice, age 10, from Dublin and Aisling Savage, age 8, from Mullingar. Photo: Mark Stedman

Creativity Unlimited – Showcasing Young Artists from the Online Programme

We are excited to announce an upcoming nationwide art exhibition series, Creativity Unlimited, that will showcase the young artists taking part in our online programme Distance Creates.

Creativity Unlimited will display creative works by young people aged between six and 16 from across Ireland who have been participating in Helium Arts’ Distance Creates online programme. The theme ‘About Me’ celebrates the creative stories of the online participants presented through zines exploring identity, and the children and young people’s journey through the online programme. 

Distance Creates is the online component of Helium Arts’ wider creative health programme, which also delivers in-person, artist-led, medically supported creative workshops in hospital paediatric outpatient clinics and community settings. 

What’s Happening?

Our main exhibition, Creativity Unlimited, will take place in Limerick, with additional pop-up shows travelling to Connected Hubs locations in Cork, Galway, and Dublin throughout November.

Limerick

Exhibition Dates: Saturday, 13th – Friday, 25th October
🕒 Gallery Hours: Monday-Saturday (10am-5pm), Sunday (12-5pm)
📍 Location: Limerick City Gallery of Art, V94 E67F

Family Day – Saturday, 19th October, 2-4pm.

Cork

Exhibition Dates: Monday, 18th – Saturday, 30th November
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday-Friday (8am-8pm)
📍 Location: Republic of Work, T12 RD43

Family Day – Saturday, 30th November, 2-4pm.

Dublin

Exhibition Dates: Monday, 11th – Saturday, 23rd November
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday-Friday (9am-5:30pm)
📍 Location: The Learning Studio, Digital Depot, Roe Lane (off Thomas Street), The Digital Hub, D08 TCV4

Family Day – Saturday, 23rd November, 2-4pm

Galway

Exhibition Dates: Monday, 4th – Saturday, 16th November
🕒 Opening Hours: Monday-Friday (9am-5pm)
📍 Location: CREW, Wellpark Road, Galway, H91 8K85

Family Day: Saturday, 16th November, 2-4pm

All are welcome to attend the Helium Arts’ Creativity Unlimited art showcase at a location of your choice. The exhibitions and all associated events are open to the public free of charge.

Welcoming being a venue partner for Creativity Unlimited, Connected Hubs’ National Hubs Network programme manager, Stephen Carolan, said:

“Connected Hubs is delighted to support Helium Arts’ innovative online programme, which empowers children and young people across Ireland to engage in creative activities, no matter their health condition or location. This complements our innovative Art in the Hubs partnership with the Contemporary Irish Arts Society to place pieces of art in hubs all over Ireland.”

How Distance Creates works

The Distance Creates programme offers a blend of online and offline creative activities. Upon signing up, children and young people receive an ‘art box’ in the post, curated by Helium Arts, containing all the necessary art materials. Participants then receive creative activities, demonstrations, and tips from a professional artist via email, allowing them to complete projects and get creative at their own pace. Additionally, there are opportunities to connect with others through Zoom sessions and ‘post pal’, where you are connected with another participant around the country to exchange artwork by post.

Distance Creates is open to young people aged between six and sixteen, and like all Helium Arts programmes, it’s free of charge. 

Feedback conducted by Helium Arts through surveys and consultations with the young people, parents and programme coordinators involved in the online programme showed how the process of being creative was a joyful and calming experience, that it promoted confidence and a sense of self, and fostered new friendships and connections between participants, who can often feel socially isolated.