Artwork created by people living with dementia to go on show in Sunderland

ARTWORK created by people living with the early stages of dementia is to go on show to the public following a pioneering £21,000 project.

The exhibition is the culmination of a six-month project in partnership with North East charity Equal Arts to help provide dementia-friendly arts centres across the region.

Leading the way has been the National Glass Centre in Sunderland where each week 20 people living with dementia and their carers have been taking part in the informal sessions.

Meet Me @ National Glass Centre was led by glass artist Sue Woolhouse and writer Romi Jones.

Based on evidence that arts activity can have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people living with dementia, the project aims to improve the care and experience of individuals and their carers.

Alison Cleland, senior learning and engagement officer at National Glass Centre, said: “This is a new area of work for National Glass Centre and one that will help us reach out to the older community, be inclusive and offer more for everyone visiting the Centre. It has been a highly successful project and we have enjoyed making links with older people in our local community and look forward to working in partnership with organisations like Equal Arts and Age UK again in the future to build on this success.”

Alice Thwaite, director of development at Equal Arts, a creative ageing charity in Gateshead, said: “We are delighted the project Meet Me has gone so well. Our aim is to ensure all arts venues in the North East are dementia-friendly and offer creative opportunities for all and the National Glass Centre is leading the way in showing how this can be done successfully.”

The exhibition will run until June 15, 2015 at the National Glass Centre.