Dramatic Need

How the Arts help kids

Sometimes even adults can struggle to find the words to describe difficult emotions. Grief, trauma, illness, violence, poverty and abuse are not easy things to express no matter how old you are.

Dramatic Need reaches out to children in impoverished and remote areas and gives them a means to address the things they struggle to talk about. How? Through fun, muck, colour, glue, play, paint, movement and music, in a way that is non-threatening and accessible.

The arts can help to facilitate communication, manage emotions, develop visual literacy and begin the healing process.

The arts engage children returning childhood to the child, allowing them to own their feelings and help them to come to terms with big emotions they may be struggling with.

At the very least, access to the arts, provides kids living in extreme poverty, a chink of light in what can be a difficult existence.

The arts have been used to help children all over the world, in war zones, in hospitals, in refugee camps and in prisons. If you would like more information about programmes that have used the arts to help children, we have assembled some further reading:


Articles:

Books:

Quotes:

'In Africa, in both rural and urban settings, theatre has proven to be an effective strategy for dissemination of health information and reinforcement of positive health messages. Theatre can overcome literacy barriers to provoke emotional and analytical response in the audience.'
Dr. Elizabeth Mbizvo, (The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Cresent) Lancet 2006:368:530-531. P30

'Whenever Children are traumatised, giving them a pen and paper and asking them to draw what they feel is one of the best forms of therapy. It has been used in every kind of war zone - from abusive families to international conflicts.'
Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor, Independent Newspaper (UK)

'I have used art therapy all my life as a form of communication. It is a brilliant way for [children] to get their feelings down - and to get rid of feelings. Once it is on paper, it is real and can be dealt with. While it is in their head, they can't formalise it.'
Kathleen Doorbar, Child psychologist, Wales

'The creative process offers hope by facilitating non-verbal communication�bringing healing. Art making is communication that can be seen, felt and heard.'
Carol M. Johnson, BSN, MA, ATR-BC and Eileen M. Sullivan-Marx, PHD, CRNP, FAAN 'Art Therapy: Using the Creative Process for Healing and Hope Among African American Older Adults

'South African society is struggling with political change and economic transformation. While culture is often used for entertainment, its function is also to heal our souls. Art and theatre do not just comment on political-social, economic issues, art is also therapy.'
Nozipho January-Bardill, South African ambassador to Switzerland

'Every child who is moved by the magic of theatre and then finds the words to engage both intellectually and emotionally with their problems because of it, to voice their concerns, ask questions and actively seek their own solutions; every young person who sees that he or she is not alone, that there are other options, and that there is support and help available; and every person who discovers the strength, confidence and skills within themselves to come back and live another day; these things are what makes the arts so powerful.' Brigid Schutz and Gordon Bilbrough, co-directors of the Theatre for Life Trust, South Africa