Folke Art provides a much-needed accessible art class to older adults in Folkestone (55+) to use as and when they need it, providing long term health and wellbeing benefits, connecting adults living in Folkestone to their peers, local artists and businesses. Folke Art outcomes for participants: · Improved Mental Health · Reduction in loneliness · Increased sense of belonging · Improved access to the arts · Learning new skills Folke Art Aims · Provide free/low cost art classes to Adults in Folkestone · Enable local artists to deliver workshops within the setting · Link creatives based around the Creative Quarter to the town · Provide supportive art classes that increase wellbeing. · Signpost participants to other activities across the town · Safeguard adults and provide a safe and supportive creative environment

What we'll deliver:

• A weekly community art class for a year for older people
• A free or low cost, accessible, weekly group
• Activities that enable participants to connect to their locality
• Creative Engagement activities that bring people together
• Establish links with health professionals & social prescribers
• Visiting artists delivering skills sessions

Why it's a great idea:

The Folk Art pilot project has been running for 7 months. 47 adults have signed up to the project that has run every week, Folke Art is there for those that need it, many particpants come weekly over a length of time and 76% of the group have been attending since the first month. Folke Art sessions enable participants to: Improved Mental Health · Reduction in loneliness · Increased sense of belonging · Improved access to the arts · Learning new skills We target older adults living in the three moset deprived wards of Folkestone, East, Central & Harbour. These areas are in the top 10% of the highest indices of deprivation in the UK. The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD2019): Headline findings for Kent The Folke Art model leads people through: Phase 1 Starting out (wk 1-11). Phase 2 Developing (wk 12-30) Phase 3 Self led (wk 30-40) Phase 4 Moving on/ co creation (wk 40-50)

Steps to get it done:

• Advertising the project
• Employing support staff
• Delivering the first month of classes
• First partnership project
• First community exhibition
• Second Partnership project
• Second community exhibition
• Third Partnership project
• Fourth partnership project
• Artists skills sessions to the group
• Evaluating the project

The Folke Art ethos is long-term engagement. Allowing people to access the group as and when they need it. Folke Art is an arts in health project directed at adults over 55 who rarely access the arts. Our belief is to connect people to each other and their community through creative practice. Participant feedback "It’s the best thing that I have done. I am ill with Asthma. This directs my thoughts in a more positive direction. It gives me great comfort." “I have fewer headaches, these were stress related. Attending the sessions is very calming and gives me something to look forward to.” “Connecting with others definitely improves my mental wellbeing.” "I’ve been through a difficult year due to my husband’s cancer diagnosis and the class has definitely given me an outlet to enable me to cope with caring for him."