The idea
36 creative workshops for 72 participants living in Tower Hamlets. Half will be living with dementia and half will be their carers.
The 36 workshops will be split into 6 programmes, intended to champion the participants creativity during what can be a significant time in their lives.
The workshops are free and conducted over Zoom, so participants can join from the comfort of their own home. The workshops are:
Cyanotype Printing
Aromatic Printing
Stencil Making
Felt Making
Clay Modelling
Drawing from Sound
Funding is required for the time of a facilitator to run the workshops, art materials for the participants, postage and packaging of materials and a designer to compile the recorded impact.
A successful project would include increased desire to participate in arts and culture socially. An ability to practice their creativity beyond the workshops. A registered improvement in the participant's senses and the knowledge for how to trigger their senses creatively.
What we'll deliver
- 36 art workshops
- Art tools and materials for 72 people
- 1 report measuring the workshops impact on dementia
Why it's a great idea
Following a pilot version of this project, funded by Toynbee Hall, we came came into contact with LinkAge Plus in Tower Hamlets. They support older residents in being less reliant on traditional healthcare services through meaningful activity. This is something we are also striving for as a result of this project. It is articulated well by Edward Bullmore, Head of Psychiatry at Cambridge University, "Patients who have been referred to an artist rather than prescribed, for example, antidepressants, taken over time, are making 37% less demands for visits to their GP and 27% less hospital admissions"
By facilitating group creative workshops, we hope participants have more confidence to engage in the cultural sector, be this attending more exhibitions or events, or participating in additional workshops beyond our own project. Because our workshops are process driven and therefore active, we also hope our project increases a desire for other activities such as group sports and leisure.
Steps to get it done
- Securing 72 participants
- Buying all of the equipment needed for each workshop
- Posting equipment to every participant, so they have the tools they need
- Completing the first programme of 6 workshops
- Completing all six programmes of 36 workshops
- Compiling all of the findings into a report
