Importance of creativity for well-being chimes with artists
Cavan County Council’s Arts and Health Manager, Elisha McCaffrey, and art therapist Kim Doherty represented Ireland at the internationally renowned Culture and Health Forum in Turku, Finland.
The pair presented their training programmes and pioneering arts and health work, placing Cavan on the European stage of innovation in culture and wellbeing.
The two-day conference, organised by the Arts Academy of Turku University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with Taikusydän Arts & Health Coordination Centre and the Nordic Arts and Health Research Network, brought together artists, educators, researchers, and healthcare professionals from across Europe. Its focus was on the growing role of arts and culture in promoting health and wellbeing.
Speaking about the event, Elisha explained: “We want to ensure culture is part of our healthcare system, and to get people to realise the value of art. It is about learning from other countries and how they work and trying to implement their ideas. They also learn from what we do as well.”
One of the key aspects highlighted at the conference was their use of the CHIME model – short for Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning, and Empowerment - a framework widely used in mental health recovery. The conference attendees were keen on hearing more of in the arts and wellbeing context, Kim Doherty said: “The Europeans were very interested in how we are using the CHIME acronym as a common language. Sometimes it’s difficult when you cross sectors or work within different organisations to find shared language. Our training on CHIME really resonated, and one of our partners in Stockholm has already repeated it.”
The CHIME principles translate naturally into creative practice. Through art, individuals can express themselves, build social connections, explore identity, and regain confidence - key components of resilience and recovery.
For Kim, the link between creativity and wellbeing is clear: “Arts and culture enhance mental health because everybody has a different way of being in the world, and it gives you another way to express yourself. Not everybody communicates best verbally or through literacy, but some things can only be said through art. The arts also give us the opportunity to look at difficult feelings and share them in a way that we can experience and understand.”
Elisha added: “The arts are like preventative tools, and that’s why we’re trying to embed them in all community settings. If we can have workshops available everywhere, they can be used as an outlet and even help prevent mental illness.”
Their participation is part of Cavan Arts Office’s leadership in the EU-funded Culture and Health Platform (2024–2028), which involves 15 partner organisations from 13 countries. Last year, Cavan Arts secured €155,000 in EU funding, with a further €38,750 provided by Cavan County Council. The four-year programme is designed to harness the power of the arts to support mental health, build resilience, and strengthen communities.
The project equips artists who want to participate: “We’re able to train our artists in practical skills, from facilitation and Mental Health First Aid to Canva training – training for hose artists who need the tools to work safely - for themselves and for the people they support. That way, everyone benefits creatively,” said Elisha.
As part of the programme, six new projects have been selected for funding, three of which are based in Cavan and the wider north-east. These include Dr. Catherine Bourne’s project, which will run interdisciplinary workshops with 12 neurodivergent teens and young people with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Gerard Reilly and Jess Kavanagh will work at Gaelscoil Bhreifne, where pupils will engage in printmaking, collage, and embroidery workshops over nine weeks. These artforms, chosen for their therapeutic qualities, aim to reduce anxiety, improve focus, and build communication skills. Celia Richard’s partnership with Le Chéile Cootehill will expand the practice of Mindful Visual Journaling and introduce visual art techniques that promote wellbeing.
Catherine Bourne also travelled to Turku, contributing to the international exchange of skills and knowledge.
The Forum not only recognised the strength of Cavan’s arts and health initiatives but also provided inspiration and new connections for future collaborations.
With the next round of project grants opening in early 2026, artists and organisations are encouraged to watch for updates on www.cavanarts.ie.