Connecting through the Creative Arts

FutureNeuro is delighted to use the powerful medium of the creative arts to communicate in new ways with new audiences about our research.

A Head with Harmony

Led by our PPI Panel Contributor and professional opera singer, Colette Delahunt, this event brought science and music together to spark conversations about the importance of diagnosing neurological conditions and involving patients at every stage of the research journey. Colette shared her family’s personal experience of seeking a diagnosis for her son Sean, who received a diagnosis of a rare genetic form of epilepsy through the FutureNeuro clinical genetics team. 

The recital took place alongside the ILAE International Epilepsy Congress (IEC) in September 2023, allowing us to share FutureNeuro’s research with a wide audience, including international clinicians and researchers, patient advocates, local patient groups, and the public. National media coverage helped to open up conversations about genetic epilepsies and highlighted the value of making research accessible to the wider public. 

‘My Unique Brain’ Art Competition 

My Unique Brain was our very first art competition, and young artists from across Ireland truly blew us away with their creativity. Using everything from paint and collage to prints and drawings, they showcased the beauty, complexity and individuality of their brains. 

The competition was inspired by the success of our Head with Harmony event and was developed to give young people a platform to explore and celebrate what makes their brains unique, while promoting inclusivity and understanding through art. 

FutureNeuro Director, Prof David Henshall, said: “We’ve been blown away by the talent and thoughtfulness of these young artists. Their work shows just how powerful creativity can be in helping us explore the things that make us who we are.” 

Seizures and Me Workshop 

Seizures and Me is a creative workshop we hosted at RCSI to give young people living with seizures the space to share what life is really like. The workshop was open to young people affected by epilepsy, functional neurological disorder (FND), tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), acute brain injury, and other conditions, as well as siblings who wanted to take part. 

Through creative expression, including painting, writing, collage and photography, participants explored their own experiences in a relaxed and supportive environment. Guided prompts encouraged reflection on different moments in their journeys, from diagnosis and treatment to friendships, frustrations, hopes and strengths. 

At the heart of Seizures and Me were simple but powerful questions: what does it feel like to live with seizures? How do you explain something so complex, and often invisible, to others? And what do you wish people understood about being you? 

The Wernicke’s Area 

This collaboration between FutureNeuro neurophysiologist, Prof Mark Cunningham, and artist Owen Boss used mixed media to communicate the impact of seizures on a person’s life. The work was informed by Owen’s wife Debbie, a former soprano singer who developed a tumour in the brain’s Wernicke’s area, affecting her ability to understand written and spoken language. 

The installation, presented at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), combined seizure recordings from Prof Mark Cunningham’s research with large-scale, custom-made fabric pieces representing brain activity. These were accompanied by mezzo-soprano Rosie Middleton, whose performance was inspired by Debbie’s seizure diaries. 

This was the first time we used art to make the complexity of epilepsy more accessible to the public. Working closely with the artist, researcher and IMMA, the project achieved national media coverage, including in The Irish Times, and helped us reach new audiences while opening the door to future creative partnerships.