WHAT's New 2008

WHAT’s Art
Quarterly Newsletter
April – June 2008

Welcome

According to Plato “everything flows, nothing stands still”, and such is the case in the work of the Waterford Healing Arts Trust at Waterford Regional Hospital.  As we head into Spring and Summer, the Oncology and Haematology Ward of Waterford Regional Hospital reopens its doors to reveal a refurbished ward, including an extended day ward, featuring an exciting art scheme by Michael Durand.  We are also working with the staff of the Paediatrics Ward to consider ways in which the area can be visually enhanced through simple design solutions and the integration of original artworks. After the success of the Passengers exhibition, we are remaining in dialogue with our Passengers curatorial group to look at options for going forward and working together creatively as a group in the future.  Doing the Rounds, the touring exhibition which visited the Mater Hospital, St. James’s Hospital and Galway University Hospital is coming home to roost and will be on view in Waterford Regional Hospital in April and May. 

Music Programme Staff workshops
The 2008 participatory music programme kicked off in February with workshops led by Liam Merriman, Mary Prendergast and Una McSweeney in the Department of Psychiatry and Ard na nDeise high-support Hostel.  As the year progresses, we will be rolling out workshops in a number of wards in St. Otteran’s Hospital and in the Activation Therapy Unit of the Hospital. This year, we are also providing a programme of staff music workshops which aims to give staff an insight into the process of participatory music and its benefits for mental health clients. 

This pioneering programme has grown to a scale not previously delivered in the South East.  It would not have been possible without the commitment and vision of the Mental Health Services and St. Otteran’s Hospital and has been largely influenced by Musique et Sante, a French Music in Hospitals programme with which Waterford Healing Arts Trust collaborated in 2006. 

Healing Sounds Programme
The Healing Sounds music programme continues with another exciting line-up. Musicians will perform in the main foyer of WRH from 1.30pm – 2.00pm and then will move to the wards and outpatient clinics throughout the hospital.

Marian and Áine Mangaoang
Monday 7th April
Marian and Áine Mangaoang are violinists.  Marian is currently a student at University City of Cork (UCC) where she studies languages and religions.  Áine studied Music and Art History in UCC where she was awarded a B.MUS in 2007. She is currently touring with her side-project, pop outfit 'Hooray for Humans', who released their debut album in October 2007.

Gillian Yates
Wednesday 28th May
Gillian Yates is a singer, actor and Senior Lecturer in Performing Arts at Chester University specialising in voice, singing and musical theatre. She will perform her one woman piece of musical theatre Pierrot’s Songs of Loss for the first time in Ireland.

Reminiscence through Song
Mary Prendergast and Liam Merriman
Bealtaine Festival, Thursday 8th May
As part of the Bealtaine festival, Liam Merrriman and Mary Prendergast will host a participatory music session with the residents of St. Patrick’s Hospital, Waterford.  This will be followed by a live performance at WRH in the afternoon. Bealtaine is the Irish National Arts Festival which celebrates creativity in older age.

Bealtaine is coordinated by Age & Opportunity - the national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society.

Úna McSweeney
Monday 9th June
Úna McSweeney, a native of Dunmore East, will give a live performance on her Salvi Harp.  Úna first learnt to play the harp at the Royal Irish Academy of Music with Sheila Larchet and later in the Dublin College of Music with Nancy Calthorpe. She has performed extensively in recent years, both for private and public functions and performances.

Kilkenny Collective for Arts Talent
Over the next few months, WHAT will play host to visits to Waterford Regional Hospital by members of Kilkenny Collective for Arts Talent (KCAT). In its Art & Study Centre in Callan, KCAT runs an Arts Council funded studio for artists with special needs and a VEC Art Course open to anybody. During the site visits, the artists from KCAT will meet staff members and visit relevant departments within the hospital. This project aims to explore the hospital context as a fertile environment for the production of new work while celebrating the creativity of artists with intellectual disabilities within the wider community. The group will exhibit artworks based on their research in WRH in September 2008.

Mo Mowlam’s Fancy Dress Party
Friday 18th April at 1.15pm
Centre of Nurse Education
Back by popular demand, for one lunchtime only! Waterford Regional Hospital’s much loved midwife Bridie Hodge will perform her outstanding short monologue Mo Mowlam’s Fancy Dress party on Friday 18th April. The main classroom in the Centre of Nurse Education will once again be transformed into a theatrical space by WHAT’s stage crew. Mo Mowlam’s Fancy Dress Party is a comical take on the world of politics and delivered through Bridie’s great impersonations and musical talent.
Don’t miss out this time!

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