In 2007, Áthas was established as a 2-yr pilot project to deliver creative arts therapies on an outreach basis to children & adults with disabilities.

The project was funded the Enhancing Disability Services Programe (Department of Justice Equality & Law Reform) and it ran until June 2009.
It was led by the Mountmellick Development Association in conjunction with the following partners; the Health Services, Laois County Council, Disability Federation of Ireland, Laois Sports Partnership, Midland Arts c/o Westmeath VEC, Mountmellick Development Association Social Inclusion, Midland Employment Support Agency, Laois VEC, Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary (Moore Abbey), Irish Wheelchair Association and National Council for the Blind of Ireland.

During it’s operation, Áthas worked with a panel of 16 therapists to deliver art, drama, music, and dance-movement therapies in 21 outreach centres throughout Laois, Offaly, Westmeath, Longford and Kildare. The project reached over 300 people.

To learn more about Áthas, read the full external evaluation report by visiting the Áthas space on www.mountmellickdevelopment.com or contact Storm Powell at Laois Partnership Company on 057 86 24525

The Áthas Carers Group which was founded by the Áthas Pilot-project (2007-2009) continues to meet at the Mountmellick Development Association every Wednesday.

This group engage in arts, crafts & recreational activities and attend monthly film screenings at the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise.

This is an integrated group & new members of the Carers Community and the Wider Community are always welcome.

For more information, please contact Storm Powell at Laois Partnership Company on 057 86 24525

Crawford College of Art & Design has provided education in the arts for over 200 years. Located in the city of Cork,Ireland, the college has a proud tradition in the fields of fine art, ceramic design, art teacher training, art therapy and adulteducation in the creative arts.
Over the past fifteen years the college has established a strong Art Therapy Department, providing opportunities for learning about, and experiencing, the Art Therapy process. Pioneering art therapy training in Ireland, the Summer School was set up followed by the Art Therapy Foundation Certificate. 1998 saw the first intake of Postgraduate Art Therapy students, the first course of its kind in Ireland. The college now offers a taught MA in Art Therapy. The Arts & Empowerment Facilitation Training Certificate, with a more community art remit, was established in 1996, and we run a number of Art Therapy introductory weekends to meet the huge demand from people wanting to experience the Art Therapy process. The Art Therapy Department is committed to providing creative educational training through experiential workshops, backed up by seminars and lectures. It is actively involved in developing the quality and educational standing of its courses.

Contact Mr. Ed Kuczaj
Head of Art Therapy and Adult Education
Phone: +353-(0)21-4921151
Email: ed.kuczaj@cit.ie