We are delighted to announce that Magdalena Schamberger, Artistic Director of Hearts & Minds has been appointed an Honorary Professor with the Division of Nursing at Queen Margaret University (QMU) with effect from 1 August 2016. The post is for three years in the first instance.
Professor Brendan McCormack, Head of the Division of Nursing, said: “I am delighted that Magdalena has been appointed as an Honorary Professor with the Division of Nursing at QMU. The work that Hearts & Minds undertakes has direct connection with the need for nurses and other healthcare professionals to engage in person-centred connected relationships with service users. The creative processes used by Hearts & Minds under Magdalena’s creative leadership and facilitation enables deep connections to happen in care situations. We are delighted to bring these approaches to our nursing programmes at QMU.”
Magdalena Schamberger said: “I am thrilled to have been awarded the title of Honorary Professor with the Division of Nursing at QMU. Hearts & Minds’ collaboration with health care staff has always been a cornerstone in the delivery our programmes. We have learned much from those committed and dedicated staff and we share many values, such as compassion, respect, openness and teamwork. In addition, Hearts & Minds aims to bring our creativity, playfulness and nonverbal communication skills to the table. I am delighted, therefore, that Prof McCormack has placed such emphasis and value on the creative process being able to facilitate connections within a health care context. I am very much looking forward to sharing my specific expertise and experiences with health care professionals at QMU.”
Notes to Editors:
Magdalena Schamberger and Hearts & Minds
Magdalena Schamberger has over 25 years experience of performing, directing and teaching physical theatre and theatre clowning in the UK and internationally. She is Co-Founder, Artistic Director and CEO of Hearts & Minds, the home of Clowndoctors and Elderflowers.
Hearts & Minds are a Scottish arts-in-health charity whose aim is to improve the experience of people in hospital and in hospice, residential and respite care by using the performing arts to encourage communication, interaction and laughter.
Hearts & Minds programmes use the performing arts to improve the quality of life for people in hospital, hospice and respite care. Clowndoctors engage with sick children, children with complex special needs and children who have undergone traumatic experiences. The Elderflowers programme uses a unique clown family concept to connect with elderly people with advanced dementia. Elderflowers was developed in 2001, with the support of the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling and it has gone on to inspire many other programmes and organisations across the globe.
For more information on the work of Hearts & Minds visit www.heartsminds.org.uk
Artful Minds
Artful Minds has been developed by Magdalena as part of a prestigious Paul Hamlyn Foundation Breakthrough Fund Award project. The award is supporting Magdalena to develop new ways to engage with people living with dementia beyond the hospital environment and into a theatre and community setting. It will culminate in the development of bespoke performances for people living with dementia and their families in 2017.
Paul Hamlyn Breakthrough Fund
The Paul Hamlyn Breakthrough Fund was established in 2008 to support the vision of outstanding individuals. Magdalena Schamberger was awarded a £250,000 multi year grant in 2014 to develop her work.
http:www.phf.org.uk/case-studies/magdalena-schamberger/
For Hearts & Minds contact:
Shirley Monteith | Marketing & Communications
shirley@heartsminds.org.uk
ENDS
Hearts & Minds Ltd, The Canon Mill, 1-3 Canon Street, Edinburgh EH3 5HE, Registered Charity No. SC027040