Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing in Waterford something for everyone

The Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing is in full swing and continues until Saturday, February 22, with music, art, poetry, storytelling, dance, talks, workshops and exhibitions every day. 

Taking place in Waterford, the free festival features inventive and sociable arts events for all ages, including a programme of Wellies - festival events for younger audiences. Presented by Waterford Libraries and Waterford Healing Arts (part of Réalta), the Well Festival is funded by the Arts Council, the HSE and Waterford City and County Council.

Highlights worth checking out for the rest of the week include: Dance Yourself Free - an energising dance workshop for teens, at Central Library on Tuesday afternoon at 2.30pm; Creative Communities - a chance to hear from artists and organisations about arts and wellbeing opportunities in Waterford, at the WCQ (Waterford Cultural Quarter) Space, 18 O’Connell Street, Thursday afternoon at 4pm; Drawing into Springtime - a relaxed art workshop with artist Kate Murphy at Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts, UHW on Friday at 1pm; Journey of Self-Discovery and Wellbeing - a calming, meditative self-care workshop at Central Library, Friday 2.30pm, and the annual festival favourite, Sunshine - an evening of uplifting poetry, prose and music, at the Book Centre, Waterford, on Friday evening at 6pm. Younger audiences and their families can take part in: Sensory Hour of Play and Creativity for tiny tots (0-3yrs) at Central Library on Wednesday at 10.30am; Mystic Holistic: Nature Crafts and Mindfulness, with artist Claire O’Sullivan, for 8-12 years, on Thursday afternoon at Central Library (1pm) and Carrickphierish Library (3pm); Celestial Crafts - workshop for 4-7yrs, at Central Library on Friday at 10am and wrapping up the festival will be Story Wave for Families - art workshop with artist Eilis O’Toole, at Réalta/Waterford Healing Arts (UHW) on Saturday at 10am.

There will also be many other exhibitions, music performances and arts events continuing throughout the week including 'Fancy a Lift?', daily Poetry Postcards curated by poet Kerrie O’Brien for patients at UHW. They are also available in Central and Dungarvan Libraries, and online at www.wellwaterford.com and Well Festival social media. 'Underestimated', is a fascinating exhibition in Central Library by textile artist Christina Drennan showcasing the beauty and potential of often overlooked material, such as waste thread and fabric remnants, and how they can be transformed and rebirthed into works of art. 

'Fragments of Motifs in Nature', an exhibition by Japanese artist, Rica Shimabukuro, features exquisite and intricate artworks that transport the viewer away from stress and worry into a fantasy world of wild birds, plants and movement. It is continuing at UHW.

'Yutori', a unique sound art installation by Patrick McGlynn (aka: Dr Mindflip), was created as an invitation to the listener to take a moment and allow themselves to be carried by the stream of sound into a space for their own thoughts and emotions. The installation is continuing in the main foyer of UHW during the festival and will be placed in various public and patient spaces at the hospital thereafter.

Meanwhile, the daily Sounds Good live music performances at 11am will also continue in the main foyer at UHW, presented by Waterford Healing Arts. The performances will feature singer, musician and composer Damien Kehoe, on Wednesday, flautist Jenny Burnes on Thursday, and singer, musician and composer Bill Stuart on Friday.

Central Library, in Waterford and Dungarvan Library will also host resources specially curated by library staff under the banner of 'Embrace the Arts at Your Library'. They can also be accessed online at www.waterfordlibraries.ie 

Among other events are Healing Sounds live music sessions, Story Wave art workshops with artist Eilis O’Toole, and 'Magical Stories', storytelling sessions with Joe Brennan, in various wards at UHW.

All events are free of charge, however, places are filling up. The full festival programme, with booking details, is available from www.wellwaterford.com and @wellwaterford on social media.