Narnia was a hive of creative activity over the summer when Tracy Councill, world renowned art therapist and Program Director of Tracy’s Kids, Georgetown USA facilitated a unique art therapy workshop.

Joined by 33 children diagnosed with cancer, siblings and their parents from across Northern Ireland Tracy ran a series of workshops specifically designed to explore the benefits of art therapy for children with cancer.

Participants were invited to create art and stories on the theme “The day I will never forget” which will contribute to the Tracy’s Kids International Art Exchange, a unique exhibition which has captured the imagination of the public throughout the world. Over 280 pieces of art, created by children with cancer in other countries world-wide including USA, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus, Latin America and Africa have already been submitted to this international travelling exhibition. (www.tracyskids.org/gallery).

Commenting on the event Ms Councill said,

“Working together helps the whole family to cope with their child or sibling’s cancer diagnosis and treatment and allows different families to come together and build extra supports to help them cope. I am delighted to be working with children from the NI Cancer Fund for Children, using art therapy to help them on their cancer journey”.

One parent Donella Meade who attended the event with her three daughters, Naomi, Gemma and Jodie commented,

“I am not someone who is naturally good at art, and was a bit apprehensive, but I surprised myself and really enjoyed the experience and found it really therapeutic. It was great to work together as a family and create pieces of work that represented us and to also come together with other families who have shared similar experiences. It felt as if we were creating our own community as well as a mobile. We loved the experience!”

As well as contributing to the international traveling exhibition, the families worked together to create a group mobile, this will be permanently displayed at Narnia.

Commenting on the project, Prof Mark Lawler, organizer of Tracy’s visit to Ireland and the art therapy workshops said,

“This is a spectacular, life-affirming exhibition, which outlines these children’s wonderful capacity to express themselves through art and be positive, despite the obvious challenges that they face”.

Updated on: 5th August, 2011