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Description of initiative
This project focuses on the interface of performing arts, health and development. Clowndoctors personify the social dimension of performing arts by turning the performance into a therapeutic and restorative experience and not merely a recreational moment. Through humour, interactive play and social/educational theatre, hospital clowning greatly improves the health care environment. Clowndoctors performances provide a much needed psychosocial support their audience, they help empowering vulnerable groups and fighting stereotypes against people with disabilities.
"The Faces behind the Nose" project is centered in raising the profile of and deepening the understanding for the benefits of hospital clowning among the general public in Europe and beyond. Its focus on the training and exchange of artists and artistic approaches to hospital clowning promotes the circulation of performing artists and their works and allows for the internationalization of their careers. The project envisions the transfer of know-how and the implementation of new formats to reach new audiences (in other geographic areas and/or from different cultural and social groups). The goal is to promote the wellbeing of sick and hospitalized persons, allowing everyone to benefit from and participate in cultural initiatives.
The planned activities will benefit more than 300 performing artists in 9 EU Member States, and also patients in non-EU countries (outreach to BH and 2 Emergency Smile missions). This multilingual and diversity of artistic expressions promotes intercultural dialogue, fosters social cohesion and allows for bridging the gap between performing arts in convention settings and performing arts in hospitals.
The project is coordinated by RED NOSES Clowndoctors International (AT) and includes national RED NOSES NPOs from 9 European countries (AT, CZ, DE, HR, HU, LT, PL, SI and SK) and the European Federation of Hospital Clown Organizations (BE).
Themes: Culture and...
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Results, benefits, impact and lessons learnt
During the two year project, the consortium partners delivered high quality training to more than 300 artists from nine European Union Member States. This training was complemented by more than 60 international exchanges and cross-border performances that fostered the exchange of know how and artistic approaches to hospital clowning. The project further resulted in the development and implementation of new artistic formats designed to reach new audiences, either by enlarging the geographic reach of the partner organisation’s work or by reaching out to new target groups. This included testing innovative approaches aimed at new audiences including children and youth with disabilities, children in palliative care at home, the elderly, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.
As an artistic organisation, the partners’ cooperation with the healthcare and humanitarian aid sector brought about synergies and complementary actions that opened new avenues and perspectives into our work. As a result of the “Faces Behind the Nose” project, RED NOSES built an important expertise in working with a variety of vulnerable groups, also outside of the hospital, and will continue incorporating these learnings in its activities. The project positively impacted the lives of thousands of children in hospitals, refugee camps and IDP centres, as well as children and youth with disabilities.