The Cloudlands National Tour by Helium Arts invites audiences into the creative lives of teenagers in hospital. Themes of alternate realities, escape and hidden stories are revealed through two distinct pieces of artwork, developed by artists Rachel Tynan and Eszter Némethi with teenagers in Temple Street Children’s University Hospital and Cork University Hospital. The Cloudlands National Tour runs from March to June 2016 in arts venues and hospitals in Galway, Waterford, Cork and Dublin. Cloudlands will be accompanied by a series of free events for artists, schools and medical students at participating arts venues. For tour information visit www.helium.ie
2016 PUBLIC TOUR DATES
Galway Galway Arts Centre 4 – 19 March 2016
Waterford Garter Lane Arts Centre 31 March – 9 April 2016
Cork The Atrium, Cork City Hall 22 – 28 April 2016
Dublin ArtBox, 19 May- 2 June 2016
The Cloudlands National Tour is funded by an Arts Council of Ireland Touring and Dissemination of Work Award.
Rachel Tynan graduated from the National College of Art and Design (BA Art and Design Education) in 2009. She recently completed her Masters in Design, examining the effects illness has on the human body through textile, sculpture and body art. She exhibited Soar Saor as part of The Ark’sAwakening Curiosityexhibition (2012) and her solo exhibition Cut Throat at The LAB (2012) pushed her work beyond the fixed manifestations of installation with an explorative dance performance which further explored the experience of living with an illness. www.racheltynan.ie
Eszter Némethi is a theatre maker and holds a BA in Drama and Theatre Studies from UCC. She has a special interest in collaborative performance making in various contexts. Her work centres on “real” non-actor performers and collaborators, strongly defined spaces and a special attention to the audience’s experience and engagement. Over the past year, Eszter has been exploring the use of game-mechanics and interactivity in her work. Eszter is the artistic director of Makeshift Ensemble and director of the company’s productions to date,Exit Strategy (2013), No One Can Hear You In There(2012) and Osteoporosis (2011). She is also curator of the multi-disciplinary arts event Quarter.www.makeshiftensemble.com
Helium Arts is a children’s arts and health organisation transforming the healthcare experience of young people and those who care for them through art, imagination and play. Established in 2009, Helium’s creative projects take place in hospitals, health centres, and community settings across Ireland. www.helium.ie