ABSTRACT
Hearts&Minds is an arts-in-health organisation based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The aim of the organisation is to promote the quality of life for people in hospital and hospice care using clowning and the performing arts. Hearts&Minds currently runs two programmes: the Clowndoctors programme for children in hospital and hospice care (launched in 1999); the Elderflowers programme for elderly people with dementia (launched in 2001). Both aim to contribute to the physical, mental and emotional well-being of participants and use clowning and the performing arts (including music, puppetry, dancing, etc.) as a starting point for communication with the participants and as an outlet for their creativity.
