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Creative arts and health research laboratory (CAHREL)

Employing Inclusive Arts-based and Digital Methodological Innovation in Healthcare

CAHREL employs arts-based participatory approaches for methodological innovation in healthcare.

Led by Professor Persephone Sextou at Leeds Beckett University in partnership with culture, arts and healthcare organisations globally, CAHREL aims to improve people’s lives, especially, children, young people, and their families in relation to health, wellbeing, mental health/illness, lived experience, social inclusion, co-design and co-production and social arts prescribing. 

Image of red umbrella on a blue background

We employ mixed arts-based participatory, qualitative and quantitative methodologies using co-design and co-production with children, young people, families and intergenerational groups. Our non-academic partners include creatives, staff in NHS clinical services, psychologists, arts and wellbeing organisations and digital health companies

what we do

By interdisciplinary research we use participatory arts and the latest immersive technologies as alternative 'outside the box' research methods and tools to inform and complement clinical inquiry and improve the participants' experience. Our arts-based approaches aim to overcome exclusionary aspects of conventional research methods. We embed bedside applied theatre, storytelling, puppetry, educational apps, immersive story worlds VR, AR, Avatar, music, movement, design and architecture to inform clinical enquiry in paediatric research for community outcomes with cultural, social and financial impact

Blog Leeds School of Arts

Glowing Stars and Giant MRI Machines: How Professor Persephone Sextou and CAHREL Are Transforming Paediatric Healthcare Through Creative Innovation

Shows a young child holding a star surrounded by stars and with a star like halo around her head.
Professor Persephone Sextou staff profile image View all by Professor Persephone (Persefoni) Sextou
By Professor Persephone (Persefoni) Sextou
11 Jun 2025

glowing stars: research study for children in Paediatrics/MRI at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust  

Led by the Leeds School of Arts and Prof Persephone Sextou at Leeds Beckett University. The Glowing Stars study is innovative digital technology-based research that aims to improve the hospital experience of children going through MRIs. Rooted in the principles of participatory arts and 1:2:1 interactive bedside arts model, we use a digital app, Augmented Reality, Avatar, and Gamification. We partner with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, University of Plymouth, Edge Hill University and the Industry (XPloro). Funded by Higher Education Innovation Funding.

latest news
Cover of Glowing Stars

partners

CAHREL is honoured to work with acclaimed experts in the field of Arts & Health from around the world.

AFFILIATED MEMBERS

  • Professor Michael Balfour profile image

    Professor Michael Balfour

    Head of the School of Arts and Media at UNSW Sydney Australia
  • Katherine Boydell profile image

    Professor Katherine Boydell

    Vice-President of the Arts Health Network NSW/ACT-Black Dog Institute, UNSW, Australia
  • Aleksandar Dundjerovic

    Professor Aleksadar Dunjerovic

    Centre for Interdisciplinary Performative Arts, Birmingham City University, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, UK.
Creative Arts and Research Lab logo

contact professor pesephone sextou

Professor Persephone Sextou is a leading expert in Applied Theatre for Health and Wellbeing. Her co-design, arts-based and cross-disciplinary research model in paediatrics and palliative care informs policy and practice of health and education services in the UK and Australia.