An art exhibition by the national arts and health charity Helium Arts is opening on November 13 that will spotlight issues with accessing cultural and public spaces in Galway for young people with lifelong health conditions.
The ‘Helium Arts Youth Showcase’ will display artworks by teenagers with lifelong physical health conditions from Galway and across the region, who have been participating in a programme of Saturday meetups and art camps throughout 2023, organised by Helium Arts, including at its Galway creative hub.
During their meet-ups, the young people visited the Galway City Arts Centre to see artists Benjamin de Burca and Bárbara Wagner’s ‘Set to Go’ exhibition, as well as Diana Copperwhite’s Onomatopoeia and Lorraine Tuck’s ‘Unusual Gestures’, as part of Galway International Arts Festival. The teenagers also participated in creative workshops in the Westside Library and Galway City Museum.
The exhibition will be showcased on both the Helium Arts and the 2023 TULCA Festival of Visual Arts websites, and their respective social media platforms from November 13 toDecember 1.
People can expect to see thought-provoking pieces, including bunting, badges and stamps, among the works on display.
An accompanying in-person ‘Sharing Day’ for family and friends is taking place at Porter Shed 1, Galway City on Saturday, 18th November, 2.30-4.30pm.
The Galway exhibition is presented in association with TULCA Festival of Visual Arts, and with support from Galway City Arts Office.
Helium Arts works to improve the wellbeing of children and teenagers living with lifelong physical health conditions. It achieves this by facilitating specially designed artist- and youth-led art workshops, including those held at its Galway creative hub.
Families, young people and children travel to Galway from other counties and across the region to take part in the Helium Arts creative programme, which aims to inspire creativity, provide social opportunities, offer new experiences, foster friendships, and improve mental health and wellbeing.
All of Helium Arts’ workshops are supported by professional artists, volunteers and on-site medical care.
The young people at its Galway creative hub have been working collaboratively with professional artist Niamh Gibbons, who facilitates the programme, to curate the presentation of their work, playing with themes and titles for their exhibition, and ways to present their work.
Feeling Seen and Heard Through Art
A survey conducted by Helium Arts in October 2023 highlighted how its national Creative Health Hub Programme helps young participants with lifelong physical health conditions to feel seen and heard. One participant who took part in the anonymous survey said they feel seen and heard when they are being creative with people similar to them, while another said they feel seen and heard when their work is shown in public.
Commenting on the ‘Helium Arts Youth Showcase’, CEO and Artistic Director of Helium Arts, Helene Hugel, said: “In Ireland, 13% (136,000 ) of children live with the challenges of a lifelong health condition. 18,000 of these children are considered as severely hampered in their everyday lives. Research shows that young people living with health conditions face loneliness, stress, anxiety, and can feel defined by their condition. They experience stigma associated with their condition, social isolation and loneliness and fewer quality friendships.
“Our year-round work aims to address these challenges. Our upcoming ‘Youth Showcase’ marks a lovely occasion to applaud the accomplishments, creativity and brilliant ideas of the teenagers who actively participate in our art workshops and camps throughout the year, in collaboration with our team of professional artists, including at our Galway hub.
“We are thrilled to witness the innovative creations they will unveil, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the in-person event and to view the online exhibition element of the series on our website.”
All ‘Helium Arts Youth Showcase’ exhibitions and associated events are open to the public and are free of charge.
Helium Arts’ national Creative Health Hub Programme is supported by the Creative Ireland Programme, the Department of Health, the HSE, and the Arts Council. The Hub Programme is funded by the Communities Integration Fund. Helium Arts is also supported by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland as an awardee of the Changing Ireland Accelerator 2023-2024. The programme for teenagers is supported by funding from The Community Foundation Ireland and the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal.
The Creative Health Hub West (Galway, Mayo, Roscommon ) is taking place in partnership with Saolta Arts, Galway University Hospital and Community Healthcare West.
For more information about the work of Helium Arts, see www.helium.ie
