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Art of Life

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Art of Life explored a range of creative approaches to facilitate end-of-life discussions within communities through music, art, and facilitated conversations. The purpose was to gently highlight the importance of planning ahead for future health and social care needs of people aged 55+, including end-of-life treatment care and legacy issues.  

Sharon Howe, Creative Communities Engagement Officer, Cavan County Council, said: 

“Creativity can have a real impact, helping people to process and express emotions, maintain human connection and to make sense of their experiences. By planning in advance, people can ensure that their wishes, beliefs, and feelings shape their future care decision. It also brings peace of mind, easing uncertainty for those closest to them.” 

Led by Creative Cavan (Cavan County Council) the project was supported by Creative Ireland’s “Creative Health and Wellbeing in the Community” funded through Shared Island during 2024 – 2025 and delivered in Counties Cavan, Fermanagh and Tyrone.

See the full story of how Sharon engineered Art of Life in this video:

Art of Life – Sharon Howe Creative Communities Engagement Officer 

Key Achievements 

Key achievement of the project includes the selection and training of a panel of artist-facilitators, who went on to develop and lead creative workshops across their local communities in libraries, hotels, and community settings throughout Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone. 

Cavan County Library Service were supported in opening “Death Positive Libraries” in six branches with recommended reading lists compiled by Irish Hospice Foundation and Compassionate Communities NI. A series of community events were also organised for encouraging open dialogue and providing practical guidance on advance planning for end of life on both sides of the border.  

Art of Life was also shortlisted at the Excellence in Local Government Awards 2025 in the Age Friendly Initiative category.

Art of Life Painting

Kim Gaffney was commissioned to create a painting to represent Art of Life following consultation with partners and members of Cavan Older Peoples Council, Cavan Age Friendly, South West Age Partnership, Compassionate Communities NI, Libraries NI, Cavan County Council’s Library Service, Healthy Ireland at Your Library, and Irish Hospice Foundation. 

This ensured the voice of the older person was represented from the onset around imagery for the project. The final art piece represents the discussions around the project and reflects a wish for the image to represent hope, positivity and include nature. A river was chosen which also allows a reflection of the cross-border Shared Island element of the project using the river which flows between Counties Cavan and Fermanagh. The image was used as the logo for the project. 

See the full story of how Kim created the image in this video:

Death Positive Libraries 

The Art of Life painting was unveiled by Cathaoirleach T.P. O’Reilly as part of the launch of Cavan’s Death Positive Library at  Cavan County Library Service  Johnston Central Library in October 2024.  

Additional Death Positive Libraries were then developed across Cavan County Council’s Library Service and Libraries NI (Fermanagh and Omagh areas) allowing access to an Irish Hospice Foundation approved reading list to support these topics. Find the booklist here: Death-Positive-Libraries-at-Cavan-Library-Service-Listing.pdf (size 151.8 KB) 

You can also read Anglo Celt’s piece about this event published on 10th October 2024. 

Capacity Building  

A panel of 15 socially engaged creatives working across art forms were selected and upskilled, not only in the general principles of advance care planning, but also in approaches tailored to engaging with older adults. This panel formed a key part of delivery. As well as being socially engaged, they had all engaged in reflective practice with great sensitivity and could offer the language of metaphor – perhaps a non-verbal language, a visual vocabulary – which is ideal for engaging those hard to reach. 

A comprehensive and intensive four-day training programme was delivered in collaboration with Irish Hospice Foundation and Compassionate Communities NI, focusing on Advance Care Planning. Additionally, Age & Opportunity provided specialised training on best practices for creative facilitation with older people. This training and increased knowledge formed an essential part of the project, empowering creatives who regularly deliver creative community projects with older people. 

Advance Care Planning Workshops 

In tandem with the above programme, Valerie Smith, Public Engagement Lead at Irish Foundation, facilitated   ‘Putting Your House in Order’ workshops across County Cavan.  Sharon Williams, Project Manager, Compassionate Communities NI facilitated "Think Ahead" Workshops.

The benefits of planning ahead were further promoted through Irish Hospice Foundation’s ‘Think Ahead’ guide and ‘Advance Care Planning: For Now and For the Future’ policy in Northern Ireland (NI). Both policies detail the four critical pillars of advance care planning – personal, legal, clinical, and financial.  

You can also read Anglo Celt’s piece about published on Thursday 8th May 2025. 

Life and Death Creative Workshops  

Following  training, each panel member submitted programme proposals based on their creative genre for delivery. These included singing, drumming, pottery, poetry, writing, reminiscence, crochet, comedy and craft. Some new partnerships were also forged during the training with delivery by same. A series of workshops were then facilitated in libraries, hotels, and community settings throughout  Counties Cavan,  Fermanagh and Tyrone.  These workshops explored themes related to life and death through mindful art-based sessions that provided space for reflection and conversation.  

Short films were produced profiling some of the workshops and can be found on Cavan Library Service You Tube. Some examples can be viewed below: 

You can also read Tyrone Herald’s piece about these workshops published on Monday 23rd June 2025 here.  

Granny Jackson’s Wake    

This immersive performance drama by Big Telly Theatre Company was staged at Cavan Arts Festival 2025 as part of Art of Life, where instead of watching actors perform on a stage, the audience becomes part of the story by interacting with the performers and the environment. . Feeback from attendees includes: 

“What a wonderful performance … I didn’t know what to expect today and I was a little anxious about it. No need to be worried. It was challenging but comforting, funny but sad, sad but funny and so thought provoking. A privilege to have been there today as part of Art of Life.” 
 

“Simply amazing experience, fun and thought provoking. Many typical Irish family members portrayed. A gentle nudge to discuss death and grief. Wow!!” 

You can also read Anglo Celt’s piece about this event published on Thursday 29th May 2025. 

Project Evaluation 

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Faculty : Nursing and Midwifery conducted a Social Return on Investment of the Project and can be found below:

If you have any queries please email

showe@cavancoco.ie - Sharon Howe or call 087 435 4826.

Creative Communities Engagement Officer

This project is funded by Creative Ireland - Shared Island and Cavan County Council through Creative Cavan.