The Puppet Portal Project – Exploring arts, health and technology with children in hospital Helene Hugel, Helium

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

2. 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

3. Puppet Portal – Arts, Health & TechnologyAims and Objectives 2009 • To 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

4. Puppet Portal – Arts, Health & TechnologyAims 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

5. Process in a Day: Making a Puppet

6. Process in a Day: Puppets

7. Process in a Day: Story and Backgrounds

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

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

10. Process in a day: Stages

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

12. Supporting Structure

13. Evaluation Methodology The 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.

14. Outcomes – Children appeared happier

15. Outcomes: Increased Social Opportunities

16. Indirect Benefits:Parents and children working together

17. Indirect Benefits:Staff Participation

18. 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

19. Working in Partnership