The R&D phase of the Joyful Institute for Adequate Studies (JIAS) is supported by Creative Scotland's Go See Share fund, which enabled JIAS founder Anthea Moys to travel to Denmark to participate in CounterPlay 2026 — an international festival of play — and to interview nine practitioners whose conversations form this podcast series. The podcast series was produced with support from Altered Lens (Johannesburg, South Africa) and the Really Terrible Orchestra (Edinburgh), whose rehearsals open and close every episode. This website was designed by Francis Burger (Johannesburg, South Africa).
The Joyful Institute of Adequate Studies Podcast.
Episode 5. Karen Duval — Making the Door
Ep.5. Karen Duval — Making the Door
Read the Transcript Karen Duval described a moment from Trolleydarity where a nurse and a patient had headphones on at the same time. Same soundscape. Same two minutes. The hierarchy just... went.
The word adequate comes from the Latin adaequare. To make level. To put on equal footing. That's what happened in that ward.
Karen's job at Tonic Arts is partly about making the door exist in the first place — slowly, relationally, through showing up and being trusted and coming back. The pathway into NHS arts work is not a form. It's people knowing you're there.
Karens game is:
Contour Portrait Race
Objective: Draw a portrait of a friend in 60 seconds.
Rules: Look straight ahead, only at your subject (not your paper). One attempt only. No cheating!
Demo: Keep it simple. Grab some paper and a pen. Work your hand and eye coordination - let the right side of your brain take over!