Staff

Avril O'Brien
Lecturer
Arts in Health & Education
BIO

AREAS OF EXPERTISE: HEALTH AND WELLBEING THROUGH ENGAGED ARTS PRACTICES, CREATIVE PEDAGOGIES, GALLERY LEARNING, PAINTING AND PRINTMAKING

Avril’s key areas of work have been the development of strategic access programmes for integration of creativity and education, such as the Arts Council’s Creative Schools project, Teacher Artist Partnerships and gallery learning.

As an Arts in Health Practitioner, Avril devised and delivered a broad range of multidisciplinary arts projects which work in tandem with and integrate primary care health initiatives (such as screening programmes) in partnership with community groups. Such art programmes centre around key determinates impacting health and wellness, taking into consideration the broader socio-economic cultural environment which shapes the individual’s experience of health and wellbeing.

As a Scenic Painter for theatre, Avril has worked with the Steppenwolf, Goodman, Lyric Opera, European Repertory and Sweetback Theatre companies in Chicago; and companies in Cork such as Corcadorca’s production of Enda Walsh’s ‘Misterman’.

Using traditional stop motion animation and early vector-based software, Avril’s short animated films were funded by the Irish Film Board, the Arts Council and RTE, touring festivals worldwide and appearing on terrestrial television.

 

RELATED COURSES:

 

MA IN ARTS AND ENGAGEMENT

PROFESSIONAL MASTER OF EDUCATION (ART AND DESIGN)