Jen Hesnan

Jen Hesnan is a professional arts facilitator based in Galway City. Jen specialises in adapting creative arts disciplines such as digital media, music, visual art, environmental art and street theatre to address the needs of client groups of all abilities and from all backgrounds.  Jen has twice been a resident artist on NYCI's Artist in Youth Work Residency Scheme . In 2012 she was resident artist at the Foróige Galway City Youth Cafe working with young people from around the city and county. In 2013 she was in residence with Galway Autism Partnership, using the arts as a tool for inclusion to achieve artistic, wellbeing and social benefits for young people on the autistic spectrum. Jen grew up in Galway until 2006 when she moved to Glasgow, Scotland, to pursue her chosen career of Community Arts. She left Glasgow in 2011 with a First Class BA HONS in Community Arts and five years of professional experience working across creative disciplines with a vast amount of community groups in Scotland. Since returning to Galway Jen has been very influential in supporting the network of people, organisations and clients involved in socially engaged arts practice and set up the online tool, Galway Community Arts Network (GALCA) to promote collaboration across professional practice. Through this she has worked with a substantial amount of community groups, facilitating arts projects. Jen also operates as a professional violinist in a band called The Hardcore Priests of Yemen. She is very passionate about the power that music holds for social engagement and is currently working with Foróige to establish a strong support network for young musicians; Soundsurfer. www.galwaycityyouthcafe.wix.com/soundsurfer