It’s time to brush up on your artistic activities as part of the lead up to next year’s International Epilepsy Day.
Our colleagues in the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) have once again launched a virtual art exhibition to mark the big day.
Last year there were incredible submissions from Ireland, and we wanted to share details of 2025’s exhibition so we can give people living with epilepsy the opportunity to showcase their creativity on the global stage.
This year IBE are asking you to use the power of art to highlight the unmet needs across the Global Epilepsy Needs Study (GENS), life domains through art.
Here are some themes they suggest to get you started, but they are just to inspire you so don’t feel limited by them! Any medium is welcome from classic painting styles to crochet.
1. Knowledge and Advice: Create a piece of art that challenges common misconceptions or stereotypes about epilepsy.
2. Safety and survival: Depict the importance of safe environments and seizure first aid.
3. Healthcare and wellbeing: Express the challenges of navigating the healthcare system to get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
4. Learning and education: Illustrate the impact of epilepsy on the educational experience. Capture the need for understanding and support from teachers and peers.
5. Work and Income: Highlight the challenges of navigating workplace accommodations and achieving financial security.
6. Safe transport and driving: Create a piece of art that advocates for accessible and affordable transportation options for people with epilepsy.
7. Community and household: Explore themes of isolation, connection, belonging, and the search for acceptance.
8. Mental health and wellbeing: Capture the invisible struggles of anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges associated with epilepsy.
9. Sexual and reproductive health: Explore the impact of epilepsy on intimate relationships, body image, and family planning.
10. Achieving your goals: Represent the diverse experiences of living with epilepsy and striving for a fulfilling life.
Submission Guidelines and Google Entry Form
If you cannot access the Google Form use this Word document.
Closing Date: Friday, 31st January, 2025.
If you are making a submission, please do share your piece with us as well by emailing our Advocacy & Communications Manager Paddy McGeoghegan on pmcgeoghegan@epilepsy.ie as we would like to feature on our social channels as well.
We can’t wait to see some of the entries from Ireland this year!
You can see some of the entries from Ireland from last year by visiting the ‘Awareness Section’ of our website.
If you are newly diagnosed, or a parent/guardian of a child newly diagnosed with epilepsy and need any information or support regarding the condition please do not hesitate to get in touch with your local Community Resource Officer. You can find their details by visiting the 'Our Local Services' section of our website.
Finally, if you are interested in getting further involved in the awareness raising efforts in the lead up to International Epilepsy Day, find out how by visiting the ‘Awareness’ section of our website.