Arts Care

24/11/2025

🌟 We’re Hiring! 🌟

Arts Care is offering a new Finance and Admin Assistant position through the JobStart Scheme NI.

This entry-level role is ideal for someone starting their career in administration, finance support or office operations. Full training and supervision will be provided.

💼 About the Role:

You’ll support our Finance and Admin Team with day-to-day office tasks, invoice processing under supervision, diary coordination, record-keeping, CRM updates, meeting logistics, reception duties and general business support. This is a great opportunity to develop core admin and finance skills in a friendly, creative organisation.

🕒 Hours: Up to 25 hours per week (flexible/reduced hours may be possible with Work Coach approval).

✨ Who Can Apply?

This JobStart opportunity is open to working-age benefit claimants who have been deemed eligible by a Work Coach.

📲 How to Apply:

If you’re on Universal Credit, contact your Work Coach via your Journal.
If you receive another working-age benefit, call your local Jobs & Benefits Office: 0800 001 5782.

Join Arts Care and help support meaningful, creative work across Northern Ireland’s health and community settings. 💙🎨



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24/11/2025

🌟 We’re Hiring! 🌟

Arts Care is delighted to offer a new Arts Programme Assistant role as part of the JobStart Scheme NI.

This entry-level position is perfect for someone passionate about the arts, community engagement and supporting creative work across health and social care settings.

💼 About the Role:

You’ll support our Programme Officers with organising workshops, exhibitions, performances and a wide range of community-based arts activities. The role includes hands-on event support, basic admin, data entry, working with artists, helping with project documentation, and assisting with simple communications tasks. Full training and supervision are provided.

🕒 Hours: Up to 25 hours per week (with some flexibility depending on approval by your Work Coach).

✨ Who Can Apply?

This JobStart opportunity is open to working-age benefit claimants who have been deemed eligible by a Work Coach.

📲 How to Apply:

If you’re on Universal Credit, message your Work Coach via your Journal.
If you receive another working-age benefit, contact your local Jobs & Benefits Office: 0800 001 5782.

Join us in bringing creativity, care and connection to communities across Northern Ireland! 🎨💙



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23/11/2025

Arts Care invites you to join our free online creative workshops for older people, care home residents, community groups and adults with additional needs. All from the comfort of your own home!

💃 Mon 1 Dec, 11am - Dance & Movement with Carmel Garvey: The Morning Metamorphosis. Uplifting movement suitable for all abilities.

💃 Mon 8 Dec, 11am - Dance & Movement with Carmel Garvey: The Morning Metamorphosis. Fun, accessible dance for everyone.

📌 Register now by emailing clare@artscare.co.uk

19/11/2025

Arts Care is joining Crossed Finger Selfie Day today to say thank you to everyone who plays The National Lottery.

we are able to deliver creative projects that support wellbeing in health and social care settings across Northern Ireland.

Your support helps bring colour, connection and creativity to people every day.

Thank you to National Lottery players for making this possible.

17/11/2025

Exploring Creativity and Well-being at Recovery College 🎨

At College, the Art of Creativity and Well-being course has brought a burst of colour, confidence, and connection to students, co-facilitated by Arts Care artist Frank Holmes.

Across three inspiring sessions, students explored collage, print stamping, and mandala art - gradually building skills, confidence, and self-expression in a supportive, non-judgemental environment.

The magic of Frank’s approach lies in inclusivity and encouragement. Students who were initially hesitant grew confident to share, experiment, and support each other’s creative journeys. By week three, participants were fully immersed in their artwork, achieving moments of creative flow while enjoying lively group discussions and reminiscence.

Feedback highlighted the lasting impact: students reported increased knowledge, new creative skills, and an eagerness to continue exploring art at home. One participant described the course as “wonderful, magical, magnificent,” reflecting the joy and empowerment sparked through creativity.

Arts Care believes in more than art - it’s about hope, choice, and opportunity. Through these sessions, students discovered a safe space to express themselves, build confidence, and connect with others.

15/11/2025

🌿 Creativity, Calm, and Connection at Killynure House 🌿

Residents at Killynure House were delighted to welcome Arts Care artist Helen Shields, whose beautiful art helped them create a stunning collaborative piece filled with birds, nests, plants and flowers.

Arts and crafts at Killynure House do more than fill the time - they bring relaxation, joy, and mental stimulation, while keeping hands active and minds engaged.

Residents praised each other’s work and enjoyed the social interaction, showing just how art can foster connection and wellbeing.

Assistant staff reflected on the sessions with warmth, noting the positive atmosphere and smiles that followed Helen’s visit. Arts Care’s work isn’t just about making art - it’s about sparking creativity, inspiring confidence, and nurturing community.

A huge thank you to Helen for her support, and we can’t wait to welcome her back to Killynure House 💛

13/11/2025

Ignite Community is here!

At Arts Care, we’re thrilled to begin delivery of our new social innovation project for young people: Ignite Community.

This exciting programme empowers young people to explore the issues that matter to them and to imagine and create a better tomorrow through the arts.
Delivered in partnership with Young Social Innovators, Donegal Youth Service, HAPANI and Kippie, Ignite Community will bring creative, youth-led projects to life across Northern Ireland and the Border Regions of Ireland over the next three years.

Our approach is arts-based and inclusion-focused, ensuring that all young people, including those with complex needs, disabilities, or health conditions, can take part, express themselves, and make their voices heard.

We can’t wait to see the creativity, connection, and change that young people will spark through Ignite Community!

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek at what some of the young people have been exploring with our Ignite Project Artists on the social issues that matter to them.

Ignite Community is a social innovation programme for young people aged 9-25, supported by the PEACEPLUS Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The project will run until 31 August 2028.



Donegal Youth Service Kippie Horn of Africa People’s Aid

11/11/2025

Our CEO, Barry, and musician Brendan delivered a relaxed performance at the Social Enterprise NI Awards on Friday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

A wonderful event celebrating the impact of social enterprises across Northern Ireland.

Social Enterprise Northern Ireland

31/10/2025

Arts Care is delighted to share that we have received Awards for All funding of £19,980 from The National Lottery Community Fund to deliver Arts in Residential Care Homes (ARCH) - a new pilot well-being project taking place in Belfast care homes over the next year and a half.

Through ARCH, Arts Care’s professional artists will use the arts to support residents’ alertness, mobility, creativity, and social connection, helping to reduce falls, low mood, isolation, and loneliness.

The programme offers a holistic mix of activities that residents and staff can tailor to their interests, including visual art, gentle dance and movement, music, reminiscence, creative writing, drama, mindfulness, meditation, chair yoga, and two bespoke Arts Care experiences - Skylarks for older people and those living with dementia, and The Crankie, a multi-artform storytelling project.

By fostering creativity, engagement, and connection, Arts Care aims to enhance residents’ overall wellbeing and quality of life.

We hope this pilot will be the foundation for a larger, multi-year initiative extending across Northern Ireland, including training for Activity Coordinators and residential care staff.

Our project was made possible thanks to players. Thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund - and watch this space for ARCH project updates.

The National Lottery Community Fund Northern Ireland

21/10/2025

🚨Attention all artists working in the creative health field! 🚨

Take part in the UK & Ireland State of the Sector Survey for Creative Health, open until 31 October. Your input will help shape future advocacy and support for creative health work across the UK and Ireland.

The survey is quick to complete, completely anonymous, and everyone who takes part can enter a £250 prize draw.

This is a partnership between The Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance, WAHWN, Arts Culture Health and Wellbeing Scotland, Arts Care (Northern Ireland), the Northern Ireland Creative Health Network, Réalta, Developing Arts + Health in Ireland and London Arts and Health. Funded by Arts Council England.

Complete it here 👉 https://forms.gle/tBzYfLkd1rRoaJgz7

Please share widely with other artists and colleagues working in creative health.

29/09/2025

What a transformation! 🎉

Staff and Arts Care artist Clare McComish collaborated to create a vibrant new mural in the Belfast City Hospital's Outpatients Courtyard.

Designed as a wellbeing initiative, the mural now brightens the waiting area, giving patients and visitors something inspiring to enjoy while bringing staff together through creativity. Hospital staff were also invited to join in with the painting!

💬 “This is looking great, finally brightening up the space!”

A wonderful example of art improving both staff wellbeing and patient experience.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

27/09/2025

The Arts Care Skylarks joined the Regional Dementia Companion Forum last week.

It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the Companions service, meet Companions from across Northern Ireland and explore how the Skylarks can work alongside them to support the wellbeing of people living with dementia.

Watch this space for what’s next!