Kildare County Council Arts Service supports an Artist in Residence programme at Naas General Hospital, placing professional artistic practice within an acute healthcare setting to support wellbeing, reflection and connection for staff, patients and visitors.
The residency was initiated in 2025 as part of the tri‑county Did I Ever Tell You project, funded through Creative Ireland’s Health & Wellbeing in the Community Scheme. It aligns with Creative Ireland Kildare’s strategic priorities around creative participation, mental health and wellbeing, and with the Arts Service’s commitment to Art for People and Place.
The programme is based on a model of embedded practice. Rather than working on a short‑term or reactive basis, the Artist in Residence becomes part of the day‑to‑day life of the hospital, developing relationships across departments and responding sensitively to the realities of an acute care environment. This approach allows time for trust, listening and meaningful creative engagement to develop.
The current Artist in Residence, John Conway, works closely with hospital staff across nursing, chaplaincy, end‑of‑life care, social care, administration, consultants and management. His practice centres on listening, conversation and collaborative making, including the use of a mobile printing press that enables creative work to take place throughout the hospital in a gentle, dignified and accessible way.
The residency provides opportunities for creative self‑expression, supports emotional and mental wellbeing, and offers moments of reflection within a busy clinical setting. It also contributes to a growing understanding of the value of sustained artistic practice within healthcare, supporting a cultural shift in how artists can work alongside health professionals.