A series of taster workshops will be delivered by artists who have participated in continuing professional development to deliver the Create to Connect project. The first workshop will take place on Saturday 1 October and will be facilitated by Marie Smith, sculptor and Daragh Slacke, musician and composer.  A series of workshops will be delivered before an art form is selected by the young people for a more intense arts experience.

Project background

The aim of Create to Connect is to support young people with tools to identify, manage and process emotions improving problem solving using creative arts experiences.   The arts experience is delivered by an artist inspired by CHIME, an accessible framework.  CHIME (Connection, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment, Leamy 2011) these 5 processes help us deal with and flourish in our life journey, promoting joy and well-being.

(Marie Smith Sculpture Studio in Cavan)

The workshops are delivered by artists who animate the framework using arts materials and exercises.   The artists who deliver this work have taken part in continuing professional development in arts and health practices, are experienced working with young people and adults and can access supervision from an art therapist. The focus of the arts activity is to support the young person to reflect on their own experiences and affirm their own learning.

The Create to Connect project approach was co-produced with Mental Health Ireland, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Cavan County Council Arts Office through an initial project award from the Public Sector Innovation Fund to Cavan Monaghan Arts and Health Forum in 2021.