COVID-19: A catalyst for online creativity for individuals with a life-limiting illness

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for the programme explored in this article. Developed to fill a gap in face-to-face support programmes for those with a life-limiting illness, the Live Well, Die Well programme offered participants the opportunity to experiment with various art-forms in online workshops. This article reveals the content and practice of three workshops facilitated by the author who uses this experience to begin an exploration of the connection between artmaking, illness, identity and agency. Critiquing the relevance of the art therapy literature to this programme, the author explores the key role online artmaking can play in ameliorating the ‘total pain’ often experienced at the end of life.