Arts + Health: Check Up Check In 2025

Arts + Health: Check Up Check In 2025 program announced by Réalta, the national resource organisation for Arts + Health in Ireland
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Tony Bates

Réalta is excited to announce the Arts + Health: Check Up Check In 2025 program, featuring renowned clinical psychologist and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at University College Dublin, Dr. Tony Bates, as the keynote speaker. His presentation titled ‘The Art of Making our Lives Work’ will be a highlight of the event.

The event will occur on Wednesday, April 30 at Esker Arts, Tullamore. It serves as a pivotal gathering for the arts and health sectors, showcasing presentations from inspiring practitioners dedicated to this field. The admission fee for the entire day, which includes lunch, is €30.

The Arts + Health: Check Up Check In program is designed for arts practitioners, healthcare professionals, and those keen on exploring this dynamic area. Participants will have an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and inspire one another through themed presentations and workshops.

This year's program includes:

- Sticking Points: Resolving Challenges in Practice – A collaborative discussion where artists and healthcare professionals share their experiences and seek solutions.

- Case Study: Mending HeArts - A health and wellbeing initiative for cardiac patients in Galway, developed by Galway City Council and its partners.

- What’s My Practice? – Workshops exploring methodologies used in collaborative arts and health practices throughout Ireland.

Reflecting on the program, Claire Meaney, Director of Réalta, expressed enthusiasm for Dr. Bates' presence, highlighting his exceptional commitment to mental health and his engaging approach. She emphasized how Arts + Health: Check Up Check In allows professionals to connect and gain inspiration in their work.

WORKSHOP OPTIONS:

WORKSHOP 1.
Exploding Practice: Rethinking Your Creative Process
Facilitated by artist Luci Kershaw

This session invites participants to reconstruct their creative process, encouraging exploration through personal methodologies and playful deconstruction.

WORKSHOP 2.
Research Stories - Insights into Movement and Emotions
Facilitated by neuroscientist and dancer Anusha Yasoda-Mohan

This workshop integrates Bharathanatyam techniques with modern science to deepen understanding of movement and emotional expression.

WORKSHOP 3.
Collaboration in Health: Artists and Arts Therapists
Facilitated by Smiling Dog Collective: artist Marie Brett and art therapists Ed Kuczaj and John McHarg

Based on a year-long multidisciplinary research project, this workshop will explore the dynamics between artists and therapists in health settings.

WORKSHOP 4.
Resonate: Singing for Wellbeing
Facilitated by Embrace Music: musicians Sadhbh O’Sullivan and Sharon Murphy

Participants will engage in Embrace Music's *Resonate* model, exploring methodologies for delivering effective sessions.

WORKSHOP 5.
Stories Beyond the Room
Facilitated by storyteller Joe Brennan

Joe Brennan will lead participants through storytelling practices, emphasizing the importance of narrative in health contexts.

Additional Information:

About Keynote Speaker Tony Bates

Dr. Tony Bates has a leading role in the field of psychology, having served as Head of the Dept of Psychology at St James' Hospital Dublin for three decades. He established the MSc in Cognitive Psychotherapy at Trinity College Dublin and founded Jigsaw, a center for youth mental health. He lives in north Sligo, where he combines his passions for writing, consultation, and gardening.

Réalta is dedicated to promoting Arts + Health in Ireland, facilitated through various programs and initiatives that aim to enrich health and wellbeing through artistic experiences. More details about their work can be found at www.artsandhealth.ie.