RED NOSES Palestine Organises a Networking Conference Titled "Creative Arts for Children's Mental Health"

RED NOSES International – Palestine (RNPS) is preparing to hold a networking conference on 29 July 2026 in Ramallah under the title “Creative Arts for Children’s Mental Health.” The conference will bring together a wide range of cultural and arts organisations, local and international partners, as well as supporters and funders of the arts sector in Palestine.

The conference aims to highlight the importance of creative arts as an effective approach in supporting children’s mental health and social well-being, especially in light of the increasing humanitarian and psychological challenges faced by children in Palestine, including the effects of conflict, displacement, poverty, and social marginalisation, with a special focus on children with disabilities.

This conference builds on an online campaign launched by RED NOSES Palestine between November 2025 and April 2026 titled “Healing with Creative Arts.” The campaign was implemented in partnership with six leading arts and cultural organisations: The Palestinian Circus, Visual Arts Forum, Art to Heart, Al Kamandjati Association, Palestinian Performing Arts Network, and The Freedom Theatre.

The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the importance of creative arts, including music, theatre, circus, healthcare clowning, performing arts, and visual arts, as a powerful approach for psychosocial support for children. It also advocated for integrating creative arts into mental health services for children in Palestine.

The conference will also serve as a platform for networking and exchange between local and international institutions and stakeholders, with the goal of building future partnerships and strengthening cooperation in developing sustainable programs that support children’s mental health through the arts.

The conference is held within the project “Humour gives hope: Strengthening the mental health of vulnerable children & adolescents in Palestine through health clowning” project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMASGPK), and also under the project “Clowning for prosperity II: Unleashing joy, fuelling growth”, in partnership with Drosos Foundation.

The conference will focus on several key themes, including:

• Exploring the psychological challenges faced by children in Palestine, especially children with disabilities and those affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty.
• Discussing the role of creative arts, including medical clowning, music, performing arts, and visual arts, in providing emotional support, reducing stress, and creating safe spaces for expression.
• Strengthening dialogue between civil society organisations, government institutions, and local communities on how to develop sustainable mental health programs in Palestine. 

According to the Managing Director of RNPS, Raedi Sadeq:
 “We believe that creative arts are not a luxury for children, but a safe space for expression and emotional release, and a real tool to strengthen resilience and hope among children in Palestine. This conference is an opportunity for all partner organisations to highlight their different experiences that contribute to children’s psychological well-being.”

The conference will include a variety of interactive artistic activities, such as performances by the healthcare clowns and circus artists, children’s participation in drawing, dancing, and music, as well as success stories and videos showing the impact of creative arts on the lives of children and how these activities have improved their mental and social well-being. The conference will also include panel discussions aimed at producing practical recommendations to support the development of this vital sector.

It is worth noting that RED NOSES International - Palestine began its work in Palestine in 2010 and is part of the parent organisation, RED NOSES International in Vienna, which carries a humanitarian mission focused on spreading humour and laughter among people in need of joy. RNPS reaffirms its commitment to continuing collaboration with active partners and institutions to enhance children’s access to safe and supportive spaces through creative arts.