Driving change through artistic activities

At RED NOSES, we are committed to advocating for the integration of artistic and humorous interventions as an integral component in health, social care, humanitarian policies and institutional practices.

Our goal is to bring about sustainable changes that positively impact the lives of those we work with, including institutions and systems.

Furthermore, these changes aim to foster emotional wellbeing, and social inclusion, and create more supportive environments.

Clown in workshop with a group of people
©RED NOSES International

Human rights-based approach

We firmly believe in the fundamental human right to a complete state of health, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the same time, we recognise the right to have access to art and the transformative power it holds.

We are dedicated to raising awareness about the positive impact of the arts on health and wellbeing and advocating for policies and legal frameworks that enable everyone to benefit from arts and humour.

©RED NOSES International - Ben Kaulfus

Three key goals

Our advocacy efforts focus on three key goals: 

  • Firstly, we strive to ensure that individuals are aware of their right to access art, emphasising the significant role it plays in wellbeing.  
  • Secondly, we aim to become an integral part of the institutions we work with, ensuring that healthcare clowning is recognised and integrated into their practices. 
  • Lastly, we actively engage policymakers, urging them to develop legal frameworks that facilitate and promote the benefits of arts and humour for all. 

Advocacy approach

To achieve our advocacy goals, we employ the following comprehensive approach:

Adult hand giving red nose to child hand
©RED NOSES Czech Republic
  • We encourage the full participation of the various groups we work with, valuing their insights and experiences. 
  • We leverage evidence from research and evaluations to demonstrate the effectiveness of healthcare clowning. 
  • We collaborate closely with our partners, recognising that collective action is essential for impactful advocacy. 
  • We engage decision-makers at institutional and systemic levels, advocating for the integration of healthcare clowning. 
  • Throughout our advocacy efforts, we prioritise the wellbeing of individuals and ensure that our actions do not pose any risks to them or our organisation. 

To gain further insights into our advocacy approach and strategies, we invite you to download our comprehensive Advocacy Strategy PDF. Discover how we’re making a difference and promoting the transformative power of arts, culture, and health.

At RED NOSES, we align our advocacy work with the principles outlined in theUN Convention of Human Rights.  

By advocating for the right to have access to art, we aim to create inclusive environments that nurture health, emotional wellbeing, and social cohesion.

The World Health Organisation (WHO)

The WHO recognises that health is a fundamental human right. This is defined in its constitution as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

In line with this understanding, the WHO acknowledges the importance of mental health as an integral component of overall wellbeing. Mental health encompasses a person's emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing.

The WHO firmly believes that mental health is a fundamental right and should be accessible to all individuals without discrimination.

Carmen Valero
International Development & Institutional Partnerships
T: +43 1 318 03 13 – 28
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