Sanctuary of Creation Partners with Creative Health Malta on CultureAndHealth Fund–Supported Paediatric Arts Project
We are proud to announce that Sanctuary of Creation has partnered with Creative Health Malta, represented by Anna Formosa, on an initiative awarded support through the CultureAndHealth Platform Fund for the Maltese Islands, managed in collaboration with Arts Council Malta.
This pioneering project, based at Mater Dei Hospital and the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC), aims to introduce creative, participatory arts into paediatric healthcare. By embedding art directly into the hospital environment, the initiative seeks to enhance the mental health and emotional wellbeing of young patients, offering them meaningful avenues for self-expression, engagement, and imaginative exploration within a clinical context.
As a project partner, Sanctuary of Creation will contribute digital-first, science-informed artistic interventions, bringing together the latest in creative technology, research, and design. These interventions are crafted to complement the participatory activities led by the hospital and Creative Health Malta, providing experiences that are not only imaginative and engaging but also grounded in evidence-based approaches to mental health support.
We are honoured to collaborate with the dedicated Creative Health Malta team, including Pam Abela and Sarah Vella, and to be guided by the expertise of Professor Persephone Sextou (PhD), whose research in applied theatre and child health will be invaluable in shaping this initiative.
This programme is part of the broader CultureAndHealth Platform project, led by Culture Action Europe and co-funded by the European Union. The warm welcome and support of hospital staff have been crucial in helping us implement a project that is both innovative and responsive to the needs of young patients.
Through this collaboration, we aim to demonstrate how creativity, technology, and science can intersect to support children’s mental health, providing them with moments of engagement, empowerment, and emotional enrichment within the hospital environment.