The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust andThe Baring Foundation

Arts & Older People

Where have we been ?

• Since 2010 20 Churchill Fellows have visited:

• 13 countries – Australia, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Czech Republic, India, Japan, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico and New Zealand, Romania and the USA.

• and have travelled for an average of5 weeks

The Baring Foundation

• Has funded 44 arts organisations to support work with older people

• Has funded the development of a dedicated website:

www.ageofcreativity.org.uk

Importance of “walking through walls”

Claire Ford’s ipad EngAGE

“The Fellowship has inspired my practice dramatically”

Japan 2010

• “The Fellowship has has given me confidence and perspective – and created a network of like-minded people you can go to for excellent guidance”

Huge amount of work generated by the Fellowships

• Dr Richard Coaten’s www.dancedementiahub.co.uk is attracting interest as a hub for dance and dementia work…

Led on to many international links and invitations to present work abroad

Extremes of difference in attitudes towards older people across countries – Sue Jennings

• How often people want to do thingsTO or FOR older people – rather than letting them find their voice

• Acutely aware of the training needed for care staff

Sheila Zagar’s Creative Movement Class, Philadelphia

Naomi Goldberg Haas dancers in East Harlem

Being inspired : Timeslips

• Storytelling using pictures as a prompt

• Developing Elders music and dance companies who also volunteer in care settings

David Clegg : Learning from pioneering disability arts programmes

• Questioning some of the language we use around arts & dementia

• How do we evaluate

the work ?

Issues to think about

• For freelancers particularly (although it applies to all in the sector who run small organisations) the issues of returning and needing to generate new work.

• Good to try and build in thinking time while you are away…

• Can take time to process – don’t rush it

Three themes emerging

Creative care – who delivers projects ?

Artists or care staffWhat is best practice ?

Reminicence v Imagination

Expectation – Creating a New Old

Where does the network go from here ?

Ideas from Fellows:

Different organisations host meetings in different areas of the country

Pledge to meet up with at least one other AOP Fellow each year

Use the Age of Creativity website to keep in touch