Applications are now open for our Arts and Culture — Bereavement and Grief training course commencing October 2025. This part-time blended course, running over two full weekends and four mid-week evenings, explores the many roles of arts and culture in contemporary dying, grief, and bereavement.
Irish Hospice Foundation developed the Arts and Culture – Bereavement and Grief training course in association with staff from Helium Arts, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RSCI), LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, St Francis Hospice, Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists (ICAT), SoloSirens, and Réalta (the national arts and health development agency). It is designed to raise awareness and understanding, while providing an introduction to basic skills.
Who is this course suitable for?
Applications are invited from professionals and volunteers in the arts, culture, or health sectors who support, or are interested in supporting, people of all ages experiencing dying, death, grief, and loss. We seek a diverse range of expertise and experience, as this enriches the learning experience for all.
Our last course attracted practitioners and researchers involved in oncology, perinatal loss, psychology, primary schools, social work, and acute hospital management, along with creatives involved in dance, music, movement, and literature.
Places are limited to 14 people to facilitate experience, exploration, and discussion. The course fee is €500. Given the level of interest and number of applicants, selection is competitive.
“There was space to learn, to converse, and to consider the many points of view that arise for artists, care workers, families of those near end of life or experiencing grief. The sessions were open enough to allow opinion and to get to know one another, and structured enough to feel complete and walk away with new knowledge and understanding.”
Past course participant
Learn More and Apply
Applications are now open for the course running October 25th to November 9th 2025.
The application deadline is September 17th, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. Notification of places will be on or before September 26th, 2025.
To learn more about the course and to apply, visit the course webpage: Training Course: Arts and Culture – Bereavement and Grief.
Questions?
If you have a query about the Arts and Culture – Bereavement and Grief training course, please email [email protected].
Background
Our Arts and Culture — Bereavement and Grief training course was developed from a prototype version trialed and evaluated by 2into3 in 2024 supported by Creative Ireland.
The resulting evaluation report noted universal consensus among participants that our Arts and Cultural Engagement Team nurtured a safe, relaxed, and supportive environment, which greatly enhanced the learning experience.
Tutors also acknowledged how the highly curatorial approach taken to the programming and selection of fellow tutors contributed to creating a positive, safe, and effective learning environment. The in-depth knowledge of Irish Hospice Foundation’s Arts and Cultural Engagement Team of each tutor’s areas of expertise, styles, and “energies” was also identified as an important success factor.
