A Heart for Art

Diana Hickey is making a World of Difference – thanks to the Vodafone NZ Foundation.

When she was 8 years old, Diana Hickey lay frustrated and alone in a Dublin Hospital, fighting off advanced meningitis. As the adults around her viewed her progress through glass observation windows that served as the walls of her room, she felt as if she had no privacy or control, no choices and no voice with which to object. These feelings persisted until the day a lady visited her room and asked her if she would like to paint. Painting gave Diana a way to express herself and communicate her desire for normality. As she completed her paintings, she hung them up on the offending glass windows.

Today, as one of six winners of Vodafone NZ Foundation's World of Difference programme, Diana Hickey will work for one year, in a full-time role as an Art Therapist, for the Child Cancer Foundation, with The Children's Haematology and Oncology Centre, and other children’s wards at Christchurch hospital. She will work hands-on with children with cancer, helping them to understand their recovery and illness and to communicate through art. She also plans to continue her research on the benefits of art therapy for young patients, their families and medical staff.

Diana's journey from Dublin’s Crumlin Hospital to Christchurch Hospital has followed a colourful path. A year after recovering from her illness Diana lost the use of her right arm for nearly two years due to an accident. During that time, she won the “Cheesiest Smile in Ireland” competition. The prize was a week in-studio with Jim Henson of “The Muppets” fame. Henson and his workshop impressed Diana so much that when she went on to do a Bachelor of Fine Art Sculpture, she wrote her first thesis exploring the creative methods that Henson employed to engage, motivate and educate his young and not so young audience. The Bachelors’ curriculum also exposed her to working with diverse community groups and led to her creating art programmes with inner city kids, French orphans and long-term unemployed adults. She also set up an art programme to support local kids and later became a Clown to support herself, as well as picking up Chef's skills along the way!

In 1999, Diana arrived in Wanaka, New Zealand, using her cooking skills to support her travel. However, in 2000, a climbing accident put her out of action for 6 months and forced her to review her life's direction. She enrolled in Auckland's Whitecliffe Art School in the Master of Art in Art Therapy programme. As a strong advocate for professionals committing to small town New Zealand and in particular, the South Island, Diana commuted to the course from Dunedin, and later Christchurch.

Christchurch has opened many doors for Diana. Firstly, she set-up a voluntary art programme at Christchurch hospital and Ronald McDonald House, where she was able to research five young patients as part of her thesis for Whitecliffe. Secondly, she became involved part-time in a Youth Arts programme and Linwood Art Academy, and as a volunteer art facilitator at Kimihia in support of youth at risk. There has been limited income involved for Diana, which has made life rather difficult despite the enjoyment she derives from her work.

Becoming one of the Vodafone NZ Foundation's World of Difference scholarship winners is about to change all that, as it means Diana's salary and expenses will be paid by the Vodafone NZ Foundation for a full year, giving her the financial freedom to work full-time for the Child Cancer Foundation. She chose the Child Cancer Foundation as her charity of choice after witnessing Family Support Worker Cynthia Annear at work in Christchurch. She believes the Foundation shares the same values and sense of protectiveness towards families and children as herself and a shared desire to separate the hospital experience from family time.

Diana's childhood experiences have given her a profound understanding of how children in hospital can feel, and as such, her therapy is centred on the child's needs. She lets the kids choose the materials they will use, whether they will attend or not, and which subject they want to focus on. At a time when these kids don't have many choices, Diana says this is a way of giving them choices and allowing them to express themselves in a non-verbal, safe way. It also gives parents time out and "with so many people around them holding their breath" it is a nice break {for the kids} from all the worried faces; "Kids live in the moment," says Diana, "So it’s important that they have a quality moment". Diana has also found that parents are able to gain insight into what their child is experiencing by looking at the artwork they have produced.

Diana Hickey’s work for the Child Cancer Foundation is now underway at Christchurch Hospital, and the Art Therapy programme is going well.