At Helium Arts we believe creativity changes lives. We support children managing long-term illness to let their creativity shine. Our creative projects provide much-needed distraction and relief from the loneliness and sadness caused by illness. In turn, children are in control of creating joyful experiences and happy memories. Our programmes take place in hospital and community settings across Ireland.
Since 2009, over 2,000 children and their families have experienced the power of creativity through one of Helium Arts’ programmes in 11 counties across Ireland.
Vision
All children living with illness in Ireland are connected to their creative powers so they can live life to the full.
Mission Statement
Helium Arts empowers children living with illness through their creativity and the arts, inspiring those who care for them and supporting creative healthy environments, while creating opportunities for artistic ambition and excellence.
Helium Arts Values
Childhood Well-being
We value a child’s right to a quality child- hood, regardless of the state of their health. We respect the individuality and autonomy of older children and teenagers and are a entive to their different needs. We believe nurturing imagination and expressing creativity is a principal part of developing childhood well-being.
Artistic Excellence
We enable artistic processes that bring about high quality outcomes to ensure that children are encouraged and inspired to continue their creative journeys into adulthood.
Collaboration
Collaboration is at the core of what we do. We listen to the young people, families, artists, healthcare staff, and organisations that we work with. We respect their contribution and value their association with us, as equals.
Learning
We are curious and keen to try out new ideas, to innovate and invent. We document and evaluate our projects, engage in action-research, share our learning with peers internationally and keep abreast of the latest trends and thinking. We value how we can learn through play, both as children and adults.
At least 13,000 children in Ireland are seriously hampered in their daily lives by a long-term health condition, facing isolation, anxiety and depression because of the limitations of their conditions.
Together, we can connect children facing the social and emotional challenges of lifelong medical conditions to a meaningful creative and social outlet
Donations to Helium Arts will fund the expansion of our programmes, bringing the powers of creativity to more children living with illness across Ireland. By supporting Helium Arts, you are also supporting a movement that values the contribution the arts make to mental health and wellbeing.
Pearse House, 22 Pearse Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
, Mullingar, Westmeath, 97 - 044