Innovative £75,000 project brings free creative sessions to people living with dementia in County Durham.

This month sees the first session of its kind launching at Durham University’s Oriental Museum for people living with dementia.

We developed Creative Age to support cultural venues to run free, inclusive sessions led by professional artists and the interests of those taking part.

Creative Age at the Oriental Museum starts on June 26 from 2.30pm until 4.30pm. The free, and friendly afternoons are open to people living with dementia and their carers.

The project was devised alongside the growing understanding that creativity remains intact long after other cognitive functions decline for people living with dementia.

Kate Parkin, our Creative Age Programme Manager, said: “We’ve seen how creativity can be a fantastic way to support communication with people living with dementia and we’re delighted those living in County Durham will have the opportunity to benefit.

“The project focuses on the Imagination Model. It explores people’s interests and being ‘in the moment’. There’s not a wrong way to be creative and Creative Age celebrates people’s achievements and recognises their artistic abilities.”

Creative Age Durham will also be held at the Spectrum Cultural Hub in Seaham led by East Durham Creates project on Mondays, 10am until 12pm.

Charlotte Spink, Access and Community Engagement Officer at the Oriental Museum said: “We are really excited to be part of the Creative Age project. Over the coming months the group will be working with a fantastic range of professional artists to help inspire creativity and imagination. Places are available, and anyone interested should get in touch.”

Later this year sessions will begin at Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, National Glass Centre and Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, with future sessions in 2019 planned for Newcastle.

Julia Dunn, The Bowes Museum’s Education Coordinator, said: “We’re really excited to be able to deliver these Creative Age artist-led sessions which will expand the opportunities we already make available to older people and those with dementia in South Durham.  It builds on the success of our existing outreach and access programmes and is due to start in late summer.”

The latest stage of the project, launched in Sunderland in 2016, has been largely funded by Arts Council England National Lottery with additional funding support from The Arts Society, Newcastle Culture Investment Fund and participating venues.

To find out more about Creative Age please email kate@equalarts.org.uk

For information on sessions, dates and times please contact the relevant venues.