Artworks created by children living with medical conditions will go on display in Westside Library in Galway city this summer.
Details of the exhibition have been announced by Helium Arts, a charity that works to transform the healthcare experience of young people through art and creative interventions.
The exhibition, with the theme of ‘Puppet Making: Transforming the Everyday into Something Extraordinary’, will run from 29 June to 9 July, and it is being facilitated by artist Co. Clare based artist Sarah Fuller.
It will feature artwork by Helium workshop participants aged nine to 12 to showcase collaborations between professional artists and young participants in the programmes run by Helium in hospital and community healthcare settings.
Heléne Hugel, CEO of Helium Arts, said that in Ireland, 11% of children live with a long-term health condition or disability and approximately 1% of all children – about 13,000 children – are seriously inhibited in their day-to-day lives.
“This can lead to significant social and emotional challenges for them,” she said.
“At Helium, we work with young people in healthcare and community settings to offer them art and other creative experiences with a view to improving their wellbeing and mental health.
“We are delighted to be launching a series of summer exhibitions today, which will celebrate the creative work of the children and artists involved while also highlighting the value of creativity for wellbeing.”
In addition to the exhibition, a ‘family sharing day’ will take place on Saturday, 2 July, with family friendly activities including creative clay work, stencil making, exploring cabinets of curiosity, animations and more.
The exhibition and associated event are open to the public, free of charge.
