Celebrating Age and Ambition

AHSW Annual Conference21st November 2013

Jayne HowardDirector, AFHC

For age is opportunity no lessThan youth itself, though in another dress,And as the evening twilight fades awayThe sky is filled with stars, invisible by day.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Morituri Salutamus

. . . to raise awareness of and stimulate debate on the talents and capabilities of older people . . .

Artistic team• Caroline Schanche – Lead artist• Jayne Devlin – dancer• Tony Johns – visual artist• Amanda White - writer

Advisory group• NHS and Local Authority Older People’s Lead• Age UK Cornwall• Volunteer Cornwall• The Works Dance and Theatre Agency• Older People’s champions (representing the west, central and north areas of the county)

• Pengarth Day Care Centre Penzance • Pengover House Residential and Day Care Centre Liskeard • Rock (near Padstow) • Pop up workshops• Inner Ground Dance Company • One to one sessions • Gyllingdune Gardens Tea Party • Competition

• 180+ participants• age range – late 50s -90s

Final event Moving Forward, Looking Back in the Exchange Gallery, Penzance• installations, projections• books of creative writing• dance performances• symposium

Over 200 people attended over 2 daysPeople travelled from across the countyMost had not visited the gallery before

“The elements of the Dance Company and exhibition in a gallery space brought a different dimension to a community arts project . . . I felt the performance, exhibition and symposium led to the project being viewed as art in its own right rather than ‘art produced by old people’ - empowerment rather than the 'aren’t they amazing old people' syndrome”.

Main achievements:• Engagement of wide range of older people right across the geographical spread of the county• Engagement of older people’s champions • Wide range of partners from different sectors working together• Production of high-quality work showcased in contemporary art gallery and very positive feedback from the audiences• Bringing together the work of many different people, working in different art forms, together into one cohesive event• Creative work with housebound people • Formation of dance company for mature dancers

Challenges:

• Balancing the needs of participants, artists and gallery

• One to one work with housebound people

Project legacy• Inner Ground Dance Company• Ready-made pop-up exhibition• Publication of writings and images• Long-term volunteer• Strengthened relationships• Training and support to continue to develop creative skills on a self-help basis• Sustainable service model for housebound people

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayrf2o14cIE&feature=youtu.be