The Stage

ACE announces £34,000 investment in arts for older people

Published Thursday 17 December 2009 at 15:45 by Lalayn Baluch

Greenwich Dance Agency, Akademi and Battersea Arts Centre are among the recipients of Arts Council England’s £34,000 fund aimed at developing arts opportunities for older people.

GDA’s Enliven project has been awarded £5,000, which will enable it to give participants the chance to explore new dance techniques, while Akademi has received the same amount to take work to care homes in Ealing and Camden.

BAC will work with Entelechy Arts to establish events such as tea parties to allow artists to work with older people. The culmination will be six works for and about the older people and their experiences.

The one-off fund is designed to highlight the “significant role that arts can play in the lives of older people – whether tackling isolation, increasing physical activity or improving self-expression”.

ACE, London executive director Moira Sinclair said: “Art has the power to transform lives, and whatever our age they can inspire, entertain and enhance our sense of well-being.”

Meanwhile, Arts Depot will join forces with the Alzheimer’s society and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust to work with 60 people living with dementia to deliver drama workshops, using to a grant of £4,179.

Westminster Arts has received £5,000 to run a similar programme in the borough. The final two grants have been awarded to partnership projects between Space and Age Concern, and the Building Exploratory and Cubitt Gallery.

Sinclair added: “These projects will provide new, innovative models that will continue to give the sector confidence to work with older people, and ensure that everyone has access to great art.”