to what extent do communities intersect with opportunities for creativity? how should we aim to...

To what extent do communities intersect with opportunities for creativity?

How should we aim to remake or rethink “communities” in the light of the need to age actively and creatively?

MANCHESTER CULTURAL OFFER FOR OLDER PEOPLELiz Postlethwaite www.smallthings.org.uk

The Mancunian Context

Work that has been developed over a period of 8 years

Desire to consider creativity within a wider context of a city wide ageing strategy

Creativity and culture as a key factor in health and wellbeing throughout life – including older age

Mancunian Context #2

Idea of active participation versus passive engagement

Important of being creatively active throughout our lives

How can creative interaction invigorate urban communities and people’s lives?

How can communities be connected with creativity? Interaction with artists, art and creative organisations.

Stage One

Part of Manchester City Council Valuing Older People Programme

Positive Images of Ageing campaign – introduction of creative / cultural ideas

Concept of creative process, image and older people

National / international acclaim

Cultural programme for Full of Life Festival allowing organisations to test the water

Stage Two

Research and mapping

Picture of what was happening in the city

What were different organisations doing?

Who was engaging? What barriers to engagement exist?

Development of older people’s cultural manifesto

Sign up from all cultural organisations in the city

Stage Three

Support from Baring Foundation

Valuing Older People Cultural Offer Group

Quarterly meeting includes all cultural organisations in the city

Very pro-active group

3 year programme of work

How does the Stage 3 programme look?

Cultural champions programme

Outreach work in local communities

Venue based work

Advocacy / strategy

Partnership / strategy

Older people as artists – making work

Policy changemakers

Older people as decision makers throughout

600k of Additional Investment

Halle – Adopt a Player Programme

Camerata – Music in Mind (Alzheimer’s Society)

Royal Exchange – Turth About Youth (The Co-operative Group)

Library Theatre – Storybox (MICRA)

Museums – Older Volunteering Programme

Academic Research – Salford University

Older people / ageing within the organisational DNA

Future

Sustainability beyond the Baring Investment

Continuation of Cultural Champions

Older people as curators / commissioners

Creativity and culture as crucial to communities

Needs to become part of the culture / DNA of organisations working with older people – hospitals, day centres

Thank you!

Liz Postlethwaite

www.smallthings.org.uk

hellosmallthings@gmail.com