Art Across Ages Project

Art Across Ages Project

LGNI were delighted to have once again been awarded funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Arts for Older People Fund.

Project Aims:

Through the Art Across Ages project Linking Generations NI (LGNI) created new links between schools and older people's care settings.  The school pupils and older people were supported to engage in intergenerational arts activities together aiming to address social isolation and having a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of all involved.

Specifically the project aimed to:

• Use the medium of arts to create linkages between generations in communities improving older people's community connections through participation in the arts
• Create sustainable opportunities for continued intergenerational arts by creating partnerships between schools and care homes
• Promote the benefits of the approach by showcasing and recognising arts produced by older people and the project
• Provide community arts opportunities for local artists.

Our participating Schools and older peoples groups/settings were:

• Marina Care Home and St Patrick's Primary School The Loup (Magherafelt)
• Hawthorn House and Bloomfield Collegiate School (Belfast)
• Loughview Care Home and Blessed Trinity College (Belfast)
• Bramblewood Care Home and Bloomfield Primary School (Bangor)

LGNI staff supported links between the participating settings and delivered intergenerational info and Dementia Awareness sessions with all of the children and young people involved in the project.  We then identified local artists who will facilitated the delivery of 6 intergenerational arts sessions.  A final celebration event was held for each project to showcase their achievements and the artwork created.

Some key stats and feedback:

• 100 participants took part
• 79% of young people and 47% older people had been involved in IG before
• 69% young people and 100% of older people felt more connected to their community as a result
• 87% participants would like to take part again
• 100% of leaders wanted to do more intergenerational activities
• 77% of young people and 95% of older people said they learnt new things as a result

Notable Quotes;

"I enjoyed the company and it felt rewarding"

"It isn't scary to be around people with dementia afterall. Old people are still fun"

"I liked meeting the kids and looked forward to them coming each week"

"I liked the children; sometimes when I didn't involve myself I still liked to watch"

"This project has increased the confidence levels in some of my students and has made them realise that working in the health care sector is something that they would like to pursue a career in. One of the students has actually been offered a job within the nursing home and has started working there"

"The impact of the project was incredibly positive on myself, the younger and older participants and everyone involved. It's given me new skills and confidence to work intergenerationally and it is definitely some I would like to continue. I think it opened everyone's eyes to how the generations benefit each other and I think everyone will remember the project with great pride and happiness"

See the links below for some news items and photos related to this project.

Art Across Age’s Projects Well Underway! – Linking Generations NI

Art Celebrations at Hawthorn House Care Home! – Linking Generations NI

Arty Celebrations at Bramblewood Care Home! – Linking Generations NI

Celebrations at Loughview with Commissioner for Older People NI! – Linking Generations NI