Galleries engaging with Socially Isolated Older People
2009-2010
Intergenerational project with Pembrokeshire County Council at Oriel y Parc, St DavidsIn 2009-10, engage Cymru worked in partnership with local authorities across Wales on a number of
action research projects focusing on engaging socially isolated older people. engage Cymru mapping report in 2009
revealed that only 3% of galleries in Wales were proactively working with older people. In response to this, and
the Wales Strategy for Older People, engage Cymru delivered a series of professional development events focusing
on older people engaging with galleries, and six far-reaching action research projects in partnership with the
following local authorities:
- Gwynedd - Bangor Museum & Art Gallery, artist Eleri Jones and residents of Plas Maesincla Care Home, Caernarfon
- Carmarthenshire - Oriel Myrddin, writer/poet John Bilsborough and residents of two care homes
- Ceredigion - Aberystywth Arts Centre, artist Becky Knight and residents of Blondeb care home
- Rhondda Cynon Taf - Cynon Valley Museum & Art Gallery, artist Louise Carey and Cwmni Dda Day Unit for Older People
- Swansea - Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, artist Maureen O'Kane and a group of 50+ individuals
- Newport - Newport Museum & Art Gallery, artist Helen Clifford and an Alternative Learning Group of young people,
and a BME group of older women
Projects were funded by the Millenium Stadium Charitable Trust, Arts Council of Wales (Lottery funding) plus
partnership funding from the local authorities.
Carers, artists and other stakeholders participated on these research projects as 'co-researchers'.
Each local authority had their own specific aims, but for engage the overall broad aims were to:
- Increase knowledge and understanding of visual arts across Wales for an older audience who may have limited experience of art
- Encourage and develop creativity in the participants
- Promote lifelong learning opportunities
- Enhance self-esteem, confidence and increased social interaction
- Help combat social isolation, loneliness and boredom
All of the above aims have been achieved, and particular benefits to participants have included:
- Increased social interaction
- Increased confidence
- Developing interests in creativity
- Discovering their local gallery as a valuable resource
- Improved motor skills/dexterity (particularly with people with mobility issues)
- Increase in decision making and choice making abilities, particularly with people with dementia
(three of the six projects worked with participants with dementia).
Unexpected outcomes:
- Carers: in many instances carers became fully engaged in the projects, and in particular the Gwynedd project which
led to one carer developing an 'art cart' following the project, which which is now used on a regular basis with
residents in their rooms. This is proving popular. The carer was delighted with the project as it allowed her to
'communicate with residents on a non-medical or need basis'.
- Families: the family members of care home residents were delighted to see their relatives engaged in creative
activity and were 'blown away' by the quality of the work they had achieved in response to gallery exhibitions.
2010-2011
During 2010 and 2011, engage Cymru worked in partnership with:
Denbighshire County Council Arts Service and Social Services; Rhyl Library and Arts Centre; Ruthin Craft Centre
and older participants suffering with dementia, along with their family carers. The project artist was Jan Gardner.
Download the case study here.
Flintshire County Council Arts, Culture and Events Service; Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Partnership;
residents of Llys Eleanor Xtra Care Housing and Theatr Clwyd. The project artist was Felicity Owens.
Download the case study here.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Lifelong Learning, Mentro Allan, Cyfarthfa Park Museum & Art Gallery,
the Alzheimers Society (Merthyr Tydfil branch). Participants included older people identified by Merthyr Alzheimers Society,
along with their 'befrienders'. The project artist was Alice Briggs.
Download the case study here.
Download the full research report here.
Projects 2011-2012
During 2011 and 2012, engage Cymru will continue developing best practice in galleries engaging with socially isolated people,
with an emphasis on arts and health. We will work in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council, Oriel Wrexham,
North Wales Arts, Health and Wellbeing Stakeholders Group. Projects will focus on older people in hospital settings.
Further details will be added to this page as projects develop.
In July 2011, engage Cymru delivered two 'Galleries, Arts and Health' seminars,
click here for further details.
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