Visual art sessions for people with dementia
Kirklees-based organisation Hoot, in partnership with South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, is inviting local people living with dementia to visual art sessions to help their creativity and imagination.
The sessions, called A slice of life, will be held at Hoot Creative Arts, Bates Mill, Milford Street, Huddersfield, HD1 3DX, and will take place every Monday until 15th July 2013.
Artist Andrea Freeman will lead a series of sessions taking participants on an imaginary journey above and below the surface of the earth looking at caves, volcanos, molten rock and mineralogy; exploring burrows of foxes, badgers, worms and creepy crawlies and our cultivation of flowers and vegetables.
Using a range of colours, textures and techniques the group will recreate their very own slice of life.
A slice of life is part of the Breathing Space programme, which offers people with dementia and their family member, partner, carer or support worker a range of creative activities to improve cognitive function and strengthen relationships. It’s proven that taking part in creative activities has positive benefits to mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Breathing Space is provided by Hoot, which is a creative partner of South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and as a result is part of a growing infrastructure of community organisations who are working with the Trust to provide creative projects to local people. As part of Creative Minds the Trust aims to support voluntary and community organisations, like Hoot, to deliver a variety of creative projects to help improve the health and wellbeing of local people.
Since Breathing Space began local people diagnosed with dementia have been attending weekly group activities where they can meet people, make friends and have fun. Sessions include music and song, movement, dance and visual arts.
Moira Wade, who coordinates the Breathing Space project at Hoot said, “A slice of life is the latest stage of our Breathing Space programme, which some people in Kirklees are already benefiting from. These sessions will focus on the use of visual arts to engage people and stimulate memories and imagination. We hope to see new and familiar faces at these weekly sessions. We would also welcome referrers to come and see what we do and refer people to a project.”
For more information and to find out how to refer contact Moira at Hoot on 01484 516224.
More information about Creative Minds can be found at www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/creativeminds
