The Renal Arts Group (RAG) was established in 2016 and is based in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University Belfast. A collaboration between patients, carers, clinicians, academics and artists, it aims to develop a programme of research and highlight and encourage the artistic talents of renal patients with the ultimate aim of improving the physical and psychological quality of life of those living with kidney disease.
RAG was formed by Dr Helen Noble (nephrology nurse and reader at Queen’s University Belfast) and William Johnston (kidney transplant recipient and the Northern Ireland Advocate for Kidney Care UK) in order to highlight the effects of living with kidney disease through the medium of art and to promote kidney transplantation.
It has recently launched it’s new website complete with an animation which explores how the arts can benefit patients living with end-stage kidney failure.
RAG’s rainbow kidney logo was created by Paul Sibley, a member of RAG who received a kidney transplant during the Covid period.
The website features information about the group, their projects, partner organisations and research such as the PhD studentship recently completed by Claire Carswell, which saw the successful development and implementation of an arts-based intervention for patients during their haemodialysis treatment.
The website also brings together work created by its members, including poetry by William Johnston, music by Daniel O’Rourke who is a transplant recipient and music by RAGBONE a band made up by Alistair McKenzie (Renal Social Worker), Ian Walsh (Surgeon and Senior Lecturer) and Lyn Mc Mullen (Audio-visual Producer).