© RED NOSES International - Ben Kalfus

Spreading smiles & hope

Embracing the power of laughter is at the very core of what we do at RED NOSES. 

We strongly believe in the transformative power of laughter and it’s our mission is to share the joy effect with individuals facing difficult circumstances. 

We provide psychosocial support through the art of clowning to advance the remarkable impact of humour on mental health.

© RED NOSES International - Craig Russell

Mental health matters

Mental health cannot and should not be underestimated. 

Providing psychosocial support through the art of clowning is our mission and we’ve been thankful since day one to witness the moving impact of humour among the people we work with. 

Humour and laughter do not discriminate. They know no age or language. That’s why we’re able to share the joy effect with such a diverse range of people in our work. 

From young children in hospitals to older people living with dementia, humour has the power to ignite feelings of hope and positivity, even during the darkest times.

© RED NOSES International - Craig Russell

How do we share the power of laughter?

The clown has always been our central figure. Through the art of clowning, RED NOSES clown artists form connections with those around them and create an atmosphere of joy and humour. As a universally recognised comic figure, the clown has the power to bridge the gap between potential barriers, such as culture and language.

A clown’s mission is to spread joy and happiness wherever they are. What’s more, clowns can normalise failure and use humour to deal with challenging circumstances. They take the negative and turn it into a positive, promoting concepts like acceptance, self-confidence and empowerment. 

Do you want to know more? Check out the journey of a RED NOSES artist.

The journey of a RED NOSES artist

© RED NOSES International Office

Clowns & science

Our work at RED NOSES is strongly supported by scientific evidence regarding the power of humour. 

Through their artistic interventions, our clown artists have a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of the people they work with, alleviating difficult emotions such as anxiety, fear, and stress. 

If you’d like to find out more about the science behind the art of clowning, visit our Research Database:

Research Database

abaton-monitoring