In Conversation: Tess Leak and Sarah Cairns – New Pathways to Connect

artsandhealth.ie is launching a new bi-monthly Arts & Health Conversation Series in 2021. Arts practitioners and healthcare professionals will provide in-depth insights into arts and health projects and discuss hot button topics including the possibilities and challenges of working in a shifting health landscape.

For our first conversation, artist Tess Leak and Activities Director Sarah Cairns (Bantry General Hospital) will explore the learning from the remote delivery of the Museum of Song Postal Project.

This project is part of the Arts for Health Partnership Programme, West Cork and was created and adapted by Tess and artist Sharon Whooley as a response to the isolation of residents in five Community Hospitals in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.

In St. Joseph’s Unit, Bantry General Hospital, Sarah Cairns facilitated the delivery of the Museum of Song and this engaging conversation will explore how she worked together with the artists through the uncertainty and fear of the first Covid-19 lockdown to the current, changed arts and health landscape. Together they will consider ideas such as creating new pathways to connect, virtual challenges, and coping with ‘on-the-spot’ learning.

This conversation is taking place via Zoom. Advance registration is essential here.

The Arts and Health Conversation Series 2021 is produced by artsandhealth.ie and funded by the Arts Council and the HSE.