May 8, 2023
Position: Facilitator of Art Care at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital
Arts Health Antigonish (AHA!) invites applications from Canadian artists working in any genre for the position of Art Care Facilitator at St Martha’s Regional Hospital (SMRH) for a 1-year period. This position is a contract position for about 20 hours/week, with 14 hours being in direct contact with people in hospital. The remaining hours are spent in preparation and reporting. Very occasionally, presentations may be required of the facilitator.
AHA! has shown over the past 10 years, that artists have much to offer in the hospital setting. The intent of this position is to assist patients in responding to their illness thus alleviating the stress of being in hospital, to offer creative strategies in managing pain, insomnia and anxiety, and to foster socialization.
Arts Health Antigonish (AHA!) is a collaboration of artists, health care workers and educators. Since 2013, AHA! has lived its mission of ‘fostering creative expression for community health’, creating about 35 arts-based programs over ten years, particularly for those in our community with less access to the arts, those in transition, isolated, ill, lonely, or vulnerable in other ways.
St. Martha’s Regional Hospital (SMRH), founded in 1906 by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, is located in Antigonish, N.S. SMRH is an acute care facility with 89 in-patient beds, providing a wide range of services through in-hospital, outpatient and satellite care.
Major Responsibilities and Commitments:
- Create and implement Art Care programming, both individual and group, using creativity for self-expression and to relieve anxiety, pain, stress and loneliness
- Liaise with care staff to identify needs of those in hospital
- Ongoing evaluation of programming; regular reporting to AHA! and funders
- Available 20 hours/week, of which at least 14 must be in SMRH, within the hours 9 am – 5 pm Monday-Friday
Requirements:
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
- Artist actively working in any genre, whose creative work can be accommodated within the hospital environment
- Strong record of community engagement; demonstrated understanding of the health-related benefits of engagement with the arts
- Experience in caregiving will be considered an asset
- Demonstrated oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to maintain accurate records and reflections of practice and to submit records in a timely manner
- Understand and respect participant confidentiality
- Able to work independently and with a team
- Responsibility and accountability for actions and decisions
- Criminal Record Check and Child Abuse Registration Check required prior to beginning employment
- Proof of Covid vaccination required
Application Documents:
- a letter explaining your interest in this position
- a current resume, including your previous residencies, mentorship experience, caregiving experience, publications, performances, public exhibits and appearances and any other relevant experience
- a sample of your published, exhibited or performed work
- Two references: name and contact information; preferably professionals in the cultural community or health sector.
Please submit applications by email to: artshealthantigonish@gmail.com by June 15, 2023.