Who can submit?
Anyone who has had experience with palliative care is welcome to submit. This includes clinical staff, patients, friends and families of either of the above, and anyone else who has been touched by pallliative care in some way. The exhibition is meant to give everyone a chance to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, so we can curate a selection of pieces that look at palliative care from all angles.
What can you submit?
You are welcome to prepare a piece in any format, but you will need to be able to share it digitally. We have a 3D virtual gallery where we can 'hang' graphic- and text-based work, as well as photographs of 3D pieces (e.g., textiles, sculptures). If you wanted to create an audio or visual piece, we can use QR codes to direct viewers towards a URL for, e.g., YouTube or SoundCloud. We do not want the digital format to stifle your creativity, so please get in touch if you want to discuss whether and how we can showcase your work.
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Contributors should provide a title for each piece, and are invited to provide a description of up to 250 words. You can use the description in whatever way you see fit -- for example, to explain how the piece was made, what inspired you to create it, what its key message is, or what you wish people knew about palliative care.
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If you are unsure where to start, we hope this website provides a few techniques that could inspire you. We are also happy to run bespoke support sessions on different methods. Just get in touch with us at c.r.kight@exeter.ac.uk to request an online workshop.
Why should you submit?
The members in the Creative Toolkit team have both witnessed and personally experienced the power of creativity to support reflection, understanding, connection, and catharsis. We are holding the exhibition in the hopes that it provides others with an opportunity (or excuse) to see what creativity can do for them. Our project was inspired by a University of Exeter module, 'The Art and History of Nursing', which culminated in a live exhibition that was subsequently made into a digital collection: 2022/23 exhibition; 2023/24 exhibition. Attendees of both have found them educational and moving. We hope to create a similar experience with our digital exhibition -- to surprise, inspire, foster learning, and prompt conversations about creativity, palliative care, and the experiences of our contributors.
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Additionally, we hope the exhibit will help audiences better understand the incredible emotional, physical, and spiritual expenditures of frontline staff -- in palliative care and beyond. Around the world, healthcare systems are struggling to meet demands, and staff are over-worked and often under-appreciated. We want to tell their stories and ensure that their contributions are seen.
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If that's not enough, we do also have prizes available to recognise the 'top' submissions -- as decided by exhibition attendees.