Create While You Wait: In-Hospital Workshops
Our ongoing hospital outpatients programme – ‘Create While You Wait’ supports children and young people managing lifelong health conditions, to access free creative activities in outpatient clinics while they wait to see the doctor and nurse.
Children and families can feel anxious or nervous about attending their hospital appointments. Our artists are helping by designing bespoke creative activity packs, and engaging with outpatients in the waiting room.
100% of children, parents and doctors said their healthcare experience was improved by our hospital programme.
(Helium Arts Impact Report 2023 by S3 Solutions)
Activities in the waiting room include watching, looking, chatting, drawing, colouring, doodling, decorating, painting, stencil, collage, journaling, storytelling, zine making, playing games, map making, puppet making, building, origami.
Helium designed activities include Folding Worlds, Stained Glass Windows, Sensory Toolkits, Kaleidoscopes and the ever-popular Bear Hunt!
Keep an eye out for the Helium Arts artists in their bright yellow t-shirts at your next appointment and get creating!
Where?
- Cork University Hospital with artist Ashleigh Ellis
- University Hospital Galway with artist Yvonne Cullivan
- University Hospital Limerick with artist Chelsea Canavan
- Mayo University Hospital with artist Tom Meskell
- Dublin: Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) at Connolly in Blanchardstown and CHI at Tallaght, in partnership with the CHI Arts in Health Programme. Artist – Peggie McKeon
