The Puppet Portal Project – Exploring arts, health andtechnology with children in hospital Helene Hugel, Helium Paula Hicks, Trinity College Dublin Orla Kenny, Kids' Own Publishing Partnership

Puppet Portal Recipe2009 & 2010

• 4 to 5 hospitals

• 4 to 8 Artists

• 2 to 3 Hospital Play Specialists

• 4 Hospital School Teachers

• 1 Children's Arts Organisation

• 1 Arts and Health Organisation

• 1 Third Level University

• 1 Artist's Mentor

• 1 External Evaluator

• 2 Funding Bodies: Arts and Health

• 600 Children

Puppet Portal – Arts, Health & Technology

Aims and Objectives 2009To reduce the sense of isolation and alienation

for children staying in hospitals

To use puppetry and technology as a medium through which to develop and promote children’s imagination and creativity.

To explore Ait Éile as a tool for collaborating creatively with children across hospitals and linking them with their peers and other artists.

To provide a model of working within the hospital setting for arts practitioners that can be replicated for wider impact in the future.

To develop the role of the artist working with children in a hospital setting

Puppet Portal – Arts, Health & Technology

Aims and Objectives 2010 Build on Learning:

To use puppetry and technology as a catalyst to create social engagement for children in hospital who cannot access gathering spaces like the classroom or playroom or who may be in hospital longer-term

To explore the collaborative art process using Solas to develop, support, and grow the child's community while in hospital

To develop the role of the artist working in a ward setting

To include clinical staff (like nurses and doctors) in the collaborative art process whenever possible

To further a model of artists and children in hospital to work collaboratively across hospitals and into the local community

Process in a Day: Making a Puppet

Process in a Day: Puppets

Process in a Day: Story and Backgrounds

Process in a Day: Performing and FilmingTechnology supporting creative process and collaboration

Process in a Day: Link-upTechnology supporting creative process and collaboration

Process in a day: Stages

Process in a Day: Multi-media Journal & DVDTechnology supporting creative process and collaboration

Supporting Structure

Evaluation MethodologyThe project was evaluated based on 292 completed questionnaires, on-site observations and other creative ways of gathering data devised by the artists to facilitate the children.

Outcomes – Children appeared happier

Outcomes: Increased Social Opportunities

Indirect Benefits:Parents and children working

together

Indirect Benefits:Staff Participation

Puppet Portal Blogs on: Practice.ie

Helene Hugel: <http://www.practice.ie/project/puppet-portal-project-hospital>

Emma Fisher: <http://www.practice.ie/project/puppet-portal-project-hospital-b>

Siobhan Clancy: <http://www.practice.ie/project/puppet-portal-project-hospital-c>

Anna Rosenfelder: <http://www.practice.ie/project/puppet-portal-project-hospital-d>

Sally Maidment: http://www.practice.ie/project/puppet-portal-project-hospital-e

Fionuala Conway: http://www.practice.ie/blog/fionnuala-conway

Niamh Lawlor: http://www.practice.ie/blog/niamh-lawlor

www.helium.ie

www.aiteile.ie

www.kidsown.ie

www.spiralorchard.com

Working in Partnership