Professional Development

Engaging the Senses

Helium Arts in partnership with Kildare County Council Arts Service hosted the Engaging the Senses symposium and practical workshop on 30 May 2018, exploring multi-sensory, interactive arts for young children with complex needs. The symposium was informed by outcomes and learning from Helium’s Pop Up Picnic, a multi-sensory performance project created in partnership with the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

Tim Webb, the Co-founder and Artistic Director of internationally renowned UK theatre company Oily Cart, gave the keynote address. Tim mentored the Pop Up Picnic creative team during the project development phase and we were delighted to welcome him back to Ireland to talk about the work of Oily Cart. Tim’s keynote included video excerpts and this audio file has been edited and shortened for clarity.

Margaret McGrath, Senior Occupational Therapist, and Eimear Quinlan, Occupational Therapist, with the Early Services Team at Enable Ireland’s Dublin Children’s Services, talked about how they use multi-sensory play in their work. They looked at the OT role in play development, sensory influence on play development, how to support and facilitate play, and how to structure sensory experiences.

The panel discussion was chaired by Lucina Russell, Arts Officer with Kildare County Council Arts Service, with the following panel: Tim Webb, Oily Cart; Margaret Naughton, Specialist Liaison Nurse with the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation; Eithne Hourihane, a participating parent on Pop Up Picnic; and members of the Pop Up Picnic creative team – Director Joanna Williams and performers Thomas Johnston and Niamh Lawlor.