Seed Grants Projects 2024 - Arts in Residential Care
In conjunction with Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), a fourth round of the IHF Seed Grants programme in May 2024 has been launched. In contrast to previous years, this round focused on creative exploration and responses to grief and loss in a residential care setting.
Following a call-out for submissions, circa 40 applications were received for a place on this programme designed to encourage creative exploration through micro-financing and mentorship. Awardees included activity co-ordinators, artists, educators, and academics. Selection was made to align with our ambition as a quality improvement programme, namely to support and improve the delivery of compassionate, person-centred, palliative, end-of-life, and bereavement care to residents and family members in nursing homes.
Using a wide variety of creative practice, each project encouraged and facilitated safe conversations about end-of-life planning, dying, death, grief, and loss. This is reflected in the use of song, drama, film, writing, poetry, movement, storytelling, memorabilia, mosaics, collage, and painting.
These projects developed from June 2024 until November 2024, and all were filmed. Enjoy exploring them below.
Led by artist-facilitator Rebecca Strain, residents and staff created a ceramic memory tree for their garden while exploring experiences of dying, death, grief, and loss. Learn more about this project.
Multi-disciplinary community artist Helen Keenan facilitated drawing and movement classes with residents aimed at engaging the mind, body, and soul to process emotions. Individual sessions were hosted for people living with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s using photographs and music. Learn more about this project.
Dr Lisa Hester collaborated with residents to re-purpose an underused prayer room into a therapeutic multi-purpose area for the whole nursing home community to use. Learn more about this project.
Unveiling Shadows - Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services (Dublin)
Performance artist Gabrielle Breathnach facilitated drama-based movement classes for residents to prompt conversations about memories, dreams, and aspirations. (Stay tuned for more information about this project)
In My Thoughts – Sunhill Nursing Home (Louth)
Visual artist Rozzi Kennedy and writer Sarah Guppy collaborated with residents to create contents for inclusion in bereavement support packs for loved ones and staff. (Stay tuned for more information about this project)
Milford Voices Choir – Milford Nursing Home (Limerick)
Activity coordinator Michelle Clifford established a choir led by residents to nurture cultural change and community building. (Stay tuned for more information about this project)
About IHF Seed Grants Programme
Initially supported by the Creative Ireland Programme, Irish Hospice Foundation’s Seed Grants programme piloted in early 2021. The aim is to inspire and support the work of groups, organisations or individuals who wish to mark, in some tangible way, their response to the universal realities of dying, death, and bereavement.
To date, 61 projects have been supported with micro grants, expertise, bespoke mentorship, and resources, enabling communities of place or interest to develop their own tools and / or articulate their needs. Awardees include nursing homes, individual artists, writers, secondary schools, community / voluntary groups, clubs, disability support centres, local choirs, and hospitals. Priority was given to creative initiatives that take innovative approaches to affording meaningful connections and conversations, along with reflection and remembrance.