Hearts & Minds are delighted to welcome Diane Thornton and Lucy McGreal as their new Joint Artistic Directors as the charity celebrates 25 years of delivering their therapeutic clown programme.
Diane and Lucy have been artists with the charity for several years and both are trained as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers. The charity is delighted that they are now going to lead the Artistic Programme. They will be working alongside Fiona Ferrier and Rachel Colles who will now become joint Programme Engagement Managers.
Fiona and Rachel have been Interim Co Artistic Leads for the last two years and will remain an integral part of the team that co-ordinates the programmes in hospitals, hospices, schools, and residential healthcare units.
All four artists will still practise as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers and continue to deliver therapeutic clowning visits to young people and ladies and gents with dementia.
Diane and Lucy commented on their new appointment: “We are delighted to become co-Artistic Directors of Hearts & Minds. It feels extra special to take on this role when the organisation is celebrating 25 years of the Clowndoctors.
“We are stepping forward to lead an artistic team we’ve been part of for a long time. Diane started as a Clowndoctor 18 years ago and Lucy started as an Elderflower 13 years ago.
“We have huge respect for our multi-skilled colleagues. We are grateful for the excellent work of interim co-Artistic Leads Fiona and Rachel. We will always be inspired by our former Artistic Directors Suzie Ferguson and Magdalena Schamberger.
“Therapeutic clowning is not unique to Scotland. It is an internationally recognised performing arts in health practice. It’s not just for laughs! Our therapeutic clowns offer authentic emotional engagement with each person they visit, creating connections which have lasting positive impacts on well-being.
“We look forward to developing our programmes in healthcare, education, and social settings. Our aim is for Clowndoctors and Elderflowers to be further integrated in units across Scotland, consistently offering work of the highest quality and fostering strong collaborations with staff.
“We are passionate about equality and access. At the heart of our work is the experience of the children, young people, and adults we visit.”
Sean Donnelly, CEO, Hearts & Minds commented: “I am thrilled to welcome Diane and Lucy into their new roles as Joint Artistic Directors of Hearts & Minds.
“Their dedication and long-standing commitment to our organisation, coupled with their extensive experience as Clowndoctors and Elderflowers, make them invaluable leaders for our artistic programmes.
“I am confident that under their guidance, Hearts & Minds will continue to flourish and positively impact the lives of those we serve. I also want to extend my gratitude to Fiona Ferrier and Rachel Colles for their exceptional leadership as interim Co-Artistic Leads and their ongoing contributions to the ongoing development of Hearts & Minds.
“This is a significant year for Hearts & Minds as we celebrate 25 years of the Clowndoctors, and I look forward to working together to support even more people when they need it most.”
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