“Just because someone lives in a care home doesn’t stop them being entitled to high quality arts and culture.”

Magic Me always aims to challenge care homes and arts organisations to be adventurous in what they offer to older residents. We also want to better understand and share what it takes to deliver great arts in a care home setting.

For the past four years our Artists’ Residencies in Care Homes (ARCH) programme has seen high profile arts companies team up with Excelcare homes across Essex to create new artworks with and for older care home residents.

Join us on 27 September to learn from all involved, and discuss how artists and care home staff can best build strong working relationships that mean older residents still get to access great art and art experiences.

From 2019 to 2023 New Adventures, Fevered Sleep, curious directive and Gecko spent time in four care homes, getting to know their staff and residents and introducing them to creative arts from movement and dance, to weaving and Virtual Reality. They will all be joining us at the event to discuss the work and learning that came out of their different experiences.

Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University tracked and evaluated the work over the four years, with the aim of developing a best practice toolkit to help others wanting to do ambitious work in this area. They will be hosting the day with us and presenting their findings, aiming to answer the project’s key challenge: “How can artists and care home staff build great working relationships to best serve older residents through the arts?”

We are delighted that guest speakers from Arts Council England and project funders Paul Hamlyn Foundation will be attending to provide sector insights and leadership.

The event is free to attend, open to all including professionals and activists working in care, the arts and health.

Please book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dare-to-imagine-arch-showcase-report-launch-tickets-646150923807?aff=oddtdtcreator