Final Workshop – future scoping

Our final seminar drew together learning from the previous workshops and discussion centred around ways of moving arts and older people work forward. Dr Helen Manchester from the University of Bristol described how their AHRC Connected Communities project ‘Tangible Memories’ http://tangible-memories.com/ was progressing, and it was useful hearing how they have made objects of escape, of exchange, or objects containing stories based around reminiscence. It was also great trying out some of the prototype digital media models such as the cushion with buttons that plays a person’s desert island discs or a duck that holds people’s memories. Helen and her team’s thinking ties in with ours around enabling people with dementia to create new meanings instead of solely focusing on reminiscence.

Andrew Newman and Kate Sweeney talked us through developments to the AHRC Connected Communities project ‘Dementia and Imagination’ – we discussed the qualitative and quantitative methods being used, and the challenge of capturing the process of engagement. It was particularly interesting considering the observation tool we are using. Kate, a participatory artist on the project, shared her person-centred approach and gave us a useful perspective on what she views as a successful exchange with participants.

In terms of moving forward, we are interested in how the four different models of partnership working develop as part of the Baring Foundation and Arts Council England ‘Arts and Older People in Care Programme’. It might be that a model based around membership, an approach that works across the whole local authority or a model based around working with a national care provider provide us with examples to be replicated?  It is important for research, policy and practice to continue developing a dialogue with the Care Home sector and programmes such as Equal Art’s ‘Creative Carers’ seems one effective way of bringing together artists and carers. We are continuing to think about ideas around resilience and how creative interventions might foster connectivity – news about a proposed book will follow.

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