During first year, Occupational Therapy students have the experience of ‘doing’ creative activities in module OT1005 Creative Occupations and Health.

There is a long history of the use of art, craft and creative activities in Occupational Therapy, dating back to the foundation of the profession in 1917 with an understanding of the power of occupation and the harnessing of people’s creative energy.

It is argued that occupational therapists need to understand the centrality of creativity to health and well-being, just as they understand the centrality of occupation in daily life.

Every year, first year Occupational Therapy students have an opportunity to participate in printmaking as part of the module OT1005 which was designed and is led by Dr. Eithne Hunt in collaboration with Cork Printmakers.

The students participate in printmaking sessions for two hours each week over six weeks, and then critically reflect on their experiences in the end of module written paper. Their work is then exhibited in the Jennings Gallery. Each year there is a designated theme for the students to explore in their creative activities. The theme for this cohort’s creative activity sessions and resulting exhibition is ‘Rest’. 

This year's exhibition by 2023/2024 first year students was organised by Dr Eithne Hunt and Michelle Broderick, both of whom spoke during the launch. Anna Navin Young, a Coaching Psychologist, Researcher, and Educator specialising in time awareness and temporal wellness opened the exhibition, and student Alanna Joyce spoke about her experience in participating in creative activities in module OT1005.

Make sure to visit 'Rest' in the Jennings Gallery to view our students' prints.

And to enable you to find out more about the inspiration behind each print, our 'Rest' Exhibition Catalogue is available to view here. Exhibition Catalogue Cover Print 'Eternal Rest' by Leah Murphy. 

It proved to be very busy and enjoyable opening night, attended by students, staff, Susan Rafferty-McArdle, Prof Nicole Müller, Prof Margaret McGrath, Stefanie Wojtek, Caroline Seacy and Prof Josephine Hegarty, Chair of the Jennings Gallery Committee.

Photography Credit: Ger McCarthy