An international gathering of healthcare clowns sounds like a lot of fun. But what exactly do they talk about? And why is that important? Sven has shared three insights with us.
1. Healthcare clowns are gaining momentum
The profession is growing. The settings in which healthcare clowns work are becoming increasingly diverse—ranging from pediatrics to psychiatry and nursing homes, all the way to war zones.
2. Science and art are coming together
There are new scientific insights into the impact of humor on health and into how human connection affects the nervous system.
3. Presence is key
Clowning is all about your relationship with your own presence. When you find calm, you help the other person find their own balance. Our nervous system responds to that of the people around us. When a connection is established, the clown can take another person into a world of play and fantasy—and from that world, a sense of empowerment can be cultivated. In this way, the patient or audience member is invited to tap into their own strength.
Come find out for yourself at MAD Convention
On Sunday, April 19, Sven will lead a workshop titled Clowning in Healthcare at MAD Convention in Antwerp. He will draw on insights from the international meeting and make them tangible: How do you work on your own presence? How do you build rapport? And how do you use that connection to create space for play?
🏥 Clown in Healthcare with Sven — Sunday, April 19, at 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and 2:15 PM
📍 MAD Convention
❗ Only day passes available
Learn more
Or immerse yourself in the wonderful world of clowning during the Summer Clowning Course
This summer course isn’t specifically about clowning in healthcare, but the core principles are the same: learning to be fully present, connecting with others, and creating something authentic from your own perspective. The insights Sven brings back from international conferences, such as the one in Switzerland, are woven into every week of the course.
There will be two more information sessions coming up soon:
- Live information session with a free workshop: Saturday, April 11, 2:00 PM, ECDF training room, Park Spoor Noord
- Online information session: Sunday, April 26, 2:00 PM via Teams