Tullie House Tullie House has been working in partnership with health care organisations to deliver an Arts in Health programme with elderly groups in the Carlisle district. The idea that engagement with the arts can bring about general improvements to health and wellbeing is not new one at Tullie House. This programme builds upon a long established practice of working with care homes in the area. Tullie House already actively engages with elderly groups by providing reminiscence sessions using themed boxes. Older members of the community have also used collections and exhibitions at Tullie House, to inspire them to produce their own artworks with the help of an artist and the support from Tullie House volunteers. The Arts in Health Programme spanned 18 months and worked across three themed areas which were poetry, music and movement, and art and craft. The Programme targeted elderly people, including those with dementia, their carers and health care practitioners. Following a taster day at the Museum, for health care practitioners, there was a series of on-‐site projects at care homes with mentoring opportunities for carers. The Museum’s collections and exhibitions were used to support the programme. For Susan Child, Community Outreach Officer, it was important to ensure a lasting legacy to the activities developed after funding for the programme had finished. To this end a significant element of the programme has been the training provision for health professionals and Tullie House staff and volunteers in arts and health practice, and how to replicate themed activities. Getting commitment from management in the care centres to give carers time to participate and develop new skills was also vital. All care settings were provided with a starter pack of resources for each of the three themes. As Child notes, “this would give carers the confidence to start straight away”. Watch this space for evaluation of the project. Tullie House is currently engaging with carers who have taken part in the training to gather feedback on what it has been like to put their learning into practice. A series of Sharing and Learning Days will explore what did and didn’t work. Throughout the programme video evaluation has captured the experiences and responses of the elderly groups whilst the art practitioners have kept reflective diaries. Feedback was also obtained from the carers involved in the projects. Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is one of the six participating museum and galleries in Who Cares? Health, wellbeing and museums a programme funded by Renaissance North West. The programme explores health and wellbeing through museum collections and gallery spaces. Further Information: Susan Child, Community Outreach Officer, [email protected] Tel: 01228 618763
To find out more about Who Cares? Contact Myna Trustram, Research Manager, Renaissance North West, [email protected]
