In 2025, Arts for Health and the Mending HeArts Project are undertaking a year-long knowledge sharing collaboration. The project sees both programmes travelling to Galway and West Cork respectively to participate in peer exchange and arts and health professional development workshops.
Mending HeArts is a Galway-based participatory arts and health programme designed to support people recovering from cardiac and stroke-related conditions. Through creative workshops led by professional artists, the programme offers a space for expression, connection, and emotional wellbeing during recovery. Funded by Creative Ireland, the Mending HeArts Project is a partnership between Saolta Arts, HSE West and North West, Galway City Council, Galway County Council, Healthy Ireland and Croí Heart and Stroke Charity.
We were delighted to invite artists on the Mending HeArts team to Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre in March. They joined members of the Arts for Health team undertaking our workshop, Dementia Training and Communication Skills with Sarah Cairns.
Recently, two Arts for Health team members made the return trip to Galway. Sarah Ruttle and Kate Liddell participated in a fantastic training day organised by Mending HeArts.
The day included two insightful sessions:
Understanding Aphasia – Led by Libby Kinneen, Speech and Language Therapist at Croí Heart & Stroke Charity
Aphasia, also called dysphasia, is a language problem caused by brain damage. It makes it hard for people to talk, understand language, read, and write. Most often, it’s caused by strokes. About one in four stroke survivors have some level of aphasia.
This training session focused on working effectively with people affected by aphasia and developing strategies to improve communication. During the session, people living with aphasia and their partners acted as co-trainers. They shared their lived experiences and the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. Artists from both programmes had the opportunity to ask questions, and learn how to better communicate with and support those living with the condition.
Arts for Health musician Kate Liddell shared afterwards, ‘The training was interesting, informative, relevant, and deeply moving at times. The most valuable aspect for me was hearing directly from the people with lived experience of aphasia who so genourously shared their perspectives with us.’
Visual artist Sarah Ruttle mentioned, ‘Doing practical exercises in the space helped us think it out for ourselves but what impacted me the most was the openness and generosity of the co-trainers sharing their lived experience. It was a privilege be part of this workshop and learn in this way.’
Self-care for Artists – Led by Lucy Hyland
Sarah Ruttle noted, ‘The afternoon session delivered by Lucy Hyland on ‘Self-Care’ included reflections which could support artists in the development of a sustainable practice while working in an Arts & Health context. Having the opportunity to share in this day of training was really beneficial.’
Huge thank you to Mending HeArts Project Coordinator, Deborah Miranda, for organising this training workshop and welcoming members of our team to Galway! We’re looking forward to the next training day already!