Collaboration between Accademia Dimitri and  the Theodora Foundation

Presentation of the collaboration with the Theodora Foundation

In this application context, as part of a project developed in synergy with the Theodora Foundation, ATD Continuing Education organizes several courses to deepen the specific professional skills of artists working with children in hospitals.

Close to the clown Dimitri and his school since the beginning of their project, the founders André and Jan Poulie have maintained strong links with the Dimitri Academy. This proximity gave room to the idea of creating a non-certified continuing education programme provided by the Academy. In 2017, a working group was set up that has deepened the objectives and methodologies of clowns’ action in health care: a stay in a hospital is a difficult experience for a child, the sources of fun and pleasure are rare and precious, and can support the treatment process. Hence the importance of having professionals trained and sensitive to all the difficulties of an action in such sensitive contexts.  The discussions led to the creation of a Masterclass for fourteen “Doctor Dreams” held in Verscio in 2019. An experience considered very positive by the participants and which should be followed up by further masterclasses in the years to come.