Mapping of Initiatives on Culture, Health and Well-being

A pilot cultural project that integrates culture into the care and life practices of dependent elderly people (Alzheimer's patients in particular), enabling them to live better in the establishment thanks to adapted artistic activities. By requiring a physical effort and/or by soliciting the individual's capacity for imagination and reflection, artistic practices can help in a multi-dimensional care leading to positive changes at different levels: internal to the patient (aesthetic enjoyment of the individual creator and/or receiver, psychic reorganisations linked to creative expression, etc.); external to the patient in his or her relationship with others and therefore, for example, with carers and attendants (new capacities for expression, communicative reorganisations, etc.); symbolic (transformations in subjective and collective representations of the self, the other, a place, etc.). The objective of the project is to scientifically analyze the role that artistic and cultural practices can play on the state of health of dependent elderly people in order to modify the way they are cared, both at home and in care facilities. In order to achieve this objective, the project proposes to observe and analyze the practices already put in place within the framework of the Gerontology department in order to evaluate and improve them and, subsequently, legitimate them as a means of caring for frail or dependent elderly people.

DUCA (Urban Alzheimer's Culture Program) is designed to accompany Alzheimer patients or with other related disorders with a focus on the needs and the evolution of the disease. This program is based on a collaboration between hospital, medical-social and cultural professionals who interact in cultural venues, healthcare settings and at home in case of disability. Various artistic and cultural activities are offered directly at the patients' residence. Their objective is to delay the progression of the disease and to improve the intellectual and psychic autonomy of the patient in a cultural and urban setting. Most of the activities are proposed for the caregiver-assisted couple in order to preserve and reinforce the relationship in a context different from the daily one. There are several workshops from theater, dance, music, pottery, photography proposed for the patients.

Culture & Hospital association and geriatric establishments have been presenting the event “Let's sing at all ages – National Week of Singing and Music with the Elderly” for 19 years already, each May.
Since the pandemic, for the 3rd consecutive year, a hybrid edition is organized with virtual musical events accessible to all. Each year, establishments are called upon to organize a double musical action: one open to the city, in connection with an external cultural structure (music training, conservatory, choirs, etc.); the second, internally, highlighting a musical activity carried out regularly in the establishment (music workshop, choir, etc). Th project has several objectives: to create a new dynamic of meeting and exchange between geriatric establishments and artistic/ cultural partners; to promote the musical activities carried out by cultural managers, facilitators, volunteers and caregivers; to federate geriatric establishments and affirm the role of the elderly person as a creator of links within social life; to raise awareness about the place of music in the care given to the elderly.

The project consisted in a national survey in order to draw up an inventory of the operations set up around cinema and audiovisuals in health establishments, the actors of these operations and the difficulties encountered. The survey was conducted by the Centre national de la cinématographie (CNC) and the Delegation for Development and International Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Communication. In 2006, this national survey, consisting of a questionnaire sent by mail to the health directors, was sent to 1,000 health care institutions (145 sites of University Hospitals and Regional Hospitals, 380 Public Hospitals, 181 local hospitals, 100 Specialized Hospitals (in mental health) - public and private, 194 private hospitals participating in the public hospital service with more than 100 beds).

RED NOSES International (RNI) is constantly improving its high artistic quality standards for artists working with RED NOSES partner organisations. RED NOSES Curriculum has been introduced in 2015 and since revised and changed according to the needs of the group. With this solid and uniformed curriculum, the RED NOSES group seeks to ensure artistic quality by providing the best possible training and education for its clown artists. The curriculum is obligatory for all RN partner organisations; therefore all clowns are required to complete the certification process. To obtain the “RED NOSES International Certificate”, the applicant is required to complete all curriculum units. The entire curriculum comprises of 28 modules in 7 units and a total of about 560 hours.
In a Study Entry and Orientation Phase applicants get a basic understanding of the ethics, drivers and structures of RNI as well as the theoretical knowledge of hospital clowning. Artistic Studies include a series of workshops taught by international professionals. Healthcare Studies & Clinical Exposure, Psychology and Sociology are essential parts of the training to understand the delicate environments and rules of working in hospitals and senior residence settings, to understand the conditions of patients, their reactions and expectations, enable specific knowledge to meet the needs for profound clown work in the hospital environment and to understanding of how to interact with people from diverse cultures and ethnicities. In a dedicated Communication Unit different communication skills are taught to promote governance and ensure a common understanding within the organisation. The Clown Trainee Programme covers practical work in hospitals and comprises coaching sessions in between the visits.
In addition to the Curriculum activities exchange programmes offer added value to the clowns´ education and training. In addition to this curriculum, each healthcare clown must sign the RED NOSES Code of Ethics, the RED NOSES Children and Vulnerable Persons Safeguarding Policy and be willing to attend regular psychological supervisions.
The RED NOSES Academy will be part of the Education System within RNI, designed as further education for certified RN clown artists. All RN clowns can apply, through their Artistic Director, for one of the offered modules, after they have successfully completed the RN Curriculum. The goal is to have a pool of internal experts that will be able to teach throughout RN and further develop RNI’s own style and maintain its artistic quality.
Above all, the RN Academy will be practice-oriented with a focus on specializing in one or more areas, such as working with senior citizens, in geriatric facilities, with children and adolescents with disabilities, giving seminars on Humor in Healthcare and others.
The layout of the RN Academy consists of mandatory modules to serve as a theoretical base as well as a varying number of modules based on specific topics and needs of RNI

RED NOSES Clowndoctors was founded in 1994 in Austria as a non-profit organisation, bringing humour and laughter to people in need of joy. In 2003 the charitable non-profit foundation RED NOSES Clowndoctors International (RNI), also based in Austria, was established as headquarters of the RED NOSES group. Its tasks are to build up, monitor and support international RED NOSES local organisations. In doing so, RED NOSES International simultaneously develops and maintains high ethical and artistic quality standards in all its clown programmes within the group.
Today, RED NOSES Clowndoctors is one of the largest clown doctor groups in the world with local organisations in 11 countries. In 2020, the international team of more than 400 professionally trained artists brought joy and laughter to more than 400.000 people in 583 medical and social institutions. The RED NOSES group has developed a wide range of specific formats within its programmes for all major beneficiaries: children in hospitals, medical and care staff, elderly people, children with disabilities as well as refugees.
RED NOSES has high artistic quality standards and is constantly investing in the training of its professional artists. With the implementation of a solid and uniformed curriculum, the RED NOSES group seeks to remain in the vanguard of artistic quality by providing the best possible training and education for its clowndoctors.
The vision of RED NOSES is that all people in need of joy are better able to reconnect to themselves, each other, and the beauty of all human emotions. This is what drives their mission: They are an artistic organisation bringing humour and laughter to people in need of joy.

• They believe in the ‘use of humour and the art of clowning’ as invaluable tools to connect to those that feel socially disconnected and improve their emotional wellbeing. With artistic interventions they want to give those in need the possibility to experience the richness and diversity of cultural expression.
• As they interact with people in need of joy, they seek to unlock their creative potential, strengthen their ability to cope with difficulties, and help towards a higher emotional wellbeing. They seek to create more supportive environments in care settings, where the use of humour and art are embraced by care providers, leading to more empathetic interactions with people in need.
• They use the experiences to inspire policy makers and conduct research for evidence-based advocacy towards one goal: to enable greater access to humour and art for people in need. They partner with like-minded organisations and use their networks of partners to amplify the message.
• Laughing and humour resonates with individuals all over the world. By using the universal language of laughter and human emotions, RED NOSES clowns are in the unique position to easily overcome linguistic, cultural and religious barriers and foster intercultural dialogue.

The purpose of the program is to send a pair of medical clowns to a seriously ill child at home with the doctor's consent. Here, in a pleasant atmosphere, the medical clowns spend time with a small patient, with his invited family and friends, full of improvisation and fun, adapted to his interests and health. The program aims to provide mental support to the sick child and his family and bring new joy and energy into their home.

In the Variety program the main roles are played by seniors and it is based on their memories and favorite activities. Its purpose is to brush up on their youth times and bring seniors back to the imaginary glow of the spotlight. It allows seniors to return, at least in part, to times when they were not yet bothered by health problems or loneliness. During the several-day program, seniors rehearse performances with the medical clowns. The first two pilot projects in Prague and Brno proved that the Variety was a real boost and that everyone enjoyed it to the fullest. The success of the Varieté was followed by the medical clowns programs.

Medical Clowns visit seriously ill adults and bring them a basket full of entertaining objects: humorous books by Czech and foreign writers, hilarious CDs, crossword puzzles. Every seriously ill patient is endowed with the Medical Clowns. But above all, the Medical Clowns bring these people the humor, understanding, interest and joy that are often left behind under the weight of demanding treatment.

The initiative offers research-backed dance classes for people with Parkinson’s disease online, in New York City, and through a network of partners and associates in more than 300 other communities in 25 countries. Dance develops strength, fluidity, flexibility, stamina, and balance; helps to master skills through progressive training; stimulates cognitive activity connecting the mind to the body; helps to forge social connections and a sense of belonging; helps express stories and emotions; sparks creativity and develops problem-solving skills and brings joy.