Chelsea Canavan’s work within Arts & Health is underpinned by a strong process-led and collaborative approach and over 12 years experience of working creatively with individual and groups. Their practice is focused in visual art, socially engaged practice and participatory arts with themes centering on belonging, space/place, inclusivity, voice and creative exploration. Chelsea uses methodologies that involve active listening, observation, documentation and collaboration; followed by reflection and group specific participatory activities and co-production to facilitate and plan workshops, interventions, and spaces. Their practice is multi-disciplinary and utilises a broad range of media including; drawing, collage, construction, sound, video, animation, and conversation writing. Art and creating that occur are rarely pre-planned, but are always meticulously reflective of and shaped by the particular group and space involved, while staying focused on a participant-led process and centred on well-being. Outcomes are equally informed by Chelsea’s own response to the participants, past and present encounters, and reflection on the creative process itself.

School for Generational StoryTelling

An arts and health project across six care homes in Sligo with artist Eamon O’Kane and supporting artist Chelsea Canavan, addressing the needs of activities coordinators and residents through the creative process. The artists investigate the needs of each care home, working with staff to explore stories and narratives that will inform the construction of a much needed creative toolkit to be used by care home activities coordinators in their daily work.

Following a series of initial site visits with lead artist O’Kane, Canavan has been working throughout the summer with residents and staff in each care home, identifying their needs and gathering vital information for the development of the creative toolkits. With further visits planned for autumn, O’Kane has been invited as research Artist-In-Residence at The Model. Site visits to the care homes, workshops and a Training & Networking Day for activities coordinators are planned in the next phase of the project.

CLICK HERE to see images from the project (photos take by Artists Chelsea Canavan and Eamon O’Kane)

The Model celebrated the launch of The School of Generational Storytelling, a major community-based art project, with a special event and opening on Wednesday, 26th March. This event celebrated the culmination of a yearlong artist-in-residence programme, where two artists Eamon O’Kane and Chelsea Canavan were placed in six care homes throughout county Sligo. During this time residents participated in hands-on creative workshops designed to spark memories, encourage self-expression, and foster intergenerational connections through storytelling, visual art, and music. A key aspect of the project was to collaborate closely with care home staff to tailor activities to residents’ interests and cognitive abilities, ensuring a meaningful and inclusive experience. 

The Model recognises the therapeutic potential of creative engagement, particularly for residents who may struggle with verbal or emotional expression. The collaborative approach at the heart of the project created a bridge for communication and connection. 

A significant outcome of the initiative is a set of bespoke creative toolkits, developed in partnership with The Model and the care homes. These toolkits, were unveiled at The Model at the celebratory event and gifted to each of the care homes involved – Bailey’s Nursing Home in Ballymote, Nazareth House, St. John’s Community Hospital and Mowlam Nursing Home in Sligo town; and Sonas Ard Na Gréine in Enniscrone. The toolkits contain carefully curated objects and creative materials inspired by the year-long collaboration. Activities coordinators and visiting family members will now have access to these engaging resources, which can be adapted to individual residents’ needs. 

Following recent projects we have done in Sligo University Hospital and the wider Sligo community, our partners have increasingly valued the positive impact of the Arts in healthcare contexts, with staff at the hospital saying –

“Working with The Model has proven to be an extremely positive and healing  endeavour. Research investigating the link between creativity and well-being in patient populations has shown that the arts can promote the overall health and positive outcomes of patients. Arts and arts engagement has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress and has had positive learning effects.”

The Model’s Director, Emer McGarry, highlights the potential for expanding this initiative to additional care homes in the future. Designed to stimulate cognitive activity and enhance well-being, they will serve as a valuable resource for both care staff and visiting families. Furthermore, a special lending library of creative materials is currently in development and will be available later this year. 

The importance of tailoring creative activities to each resident’s unique cognitive and emotional state was key to the project’s success.

The Model invites the public to experience some of the residents’ artwork and explore the original toolkit, which will be on display at The Model from 27th March to 3rd May. 

Helium Arts and the Limerick Health Hub

Helium Arts’ Creative Health Hub model is a creative approach to bring innovative, multidisciplinary projects to children and teenagers across Ireland living with health conditions. In each Creative Health Hub location, Helium’s artists deliver a continuous year-long programme of activity connecting between hospitals, community and public settings. To learn more about current programmes visit Helium’s website, check them out on Facebook or follow them on Instagram.

Sight Sound Story – Age and Opportunity

Sight, Sound, Story
Tipperary Bealtaine 2023

‘Sight, Sound, Story’ was a collaborative, multimedia project that integrated personal narratives, visual arts and soundscapes.
During Tipperary Bealtaine 2023, artists Chelsea Canavan and Andy Spearpoint worked with residents at Newport Day Care Centre, Co Tipperary. Together, they embarked on a creative journey, weaving stories associated with items of personal significance into collaborative artworks and immersive soundscapes. The project encompassed a diverse range of media, including short animations, time-lapse pieces, and various sound elements.
Chelsea Canavan is a socially engaged, multi disciplinary visual artist who uses a broad range of media including drawing, collage, construction, sound, video and animation.
Andy Spearpoint is a community musician who works with groups in education and community settings. He has been developing work for older adults involving the creation of interactive sound worlds using the voice of participants along with various home made and electronic instruments.