Over 200 arts participants (aged 50+), policy makers, local authorities and health boards united on Tuesday, 29 March 2011, to celebrate the benefits of a creative older population.

Organised in partnership with Creative Scotland and the National Forum on Ageing Futures Group the event takes place at Perth Concert Hall and will explore good practice for, by and about older people’s creativity and the need to support and promote this work.

Working in partnership with the Baring Foundation and Age Scotland, Creative Scotland will be developing a programme for arts and older people over the next four years to address the issue of participation, plans include a national festival for the creative arts for older people to be launched on Tuesday.

Creative Scotland is committed to encouraging as many people as possible to access and participate in the arts and culture in Scotland.  Previous research (Taking Part 2008) found that older people are less likely to take part in the arts. By highlighting opportunities for older people to get involved in the arts this event is a step towards addressing this gap. The National Forum on Ageing Futures Group reflects the views of older people and focuses on solutions that meet Scotland’s needs as its population ages.  Older people have told the NFA Futures Group that ageing creatively has both individual and societal benefits to not only health and well being, but within business and finance too.

Creative Ageing’s highlights include a recital by Scotland’s National Poet Liz Lochhead, who has chosen a selection of works especially for the occasion.  Storyteller Jack Martin , will talk about his many years as an actor, comedian, bit part TV performer and storyteller to older people, with an emphasis on ‘laughter being the best medicine’ and Donna Rutherford who will give an illustrative talk on her KIN project, a performance which explores the emotional journey experienced as we grow older and our relationships with our parents change.

Two leading organisations currently working with older people in Scotland: Artlink, an organisation who work to increase opportunities for individuals who experience disadvantage or disability to take part in the arts and Art in Hospital who provide an extensive ongoing programme of visual arts in a variety of health care settings, will lead a visual arts discussion panel.

Andrew Dixon, Chief Executive for Creative Scotland said:

‘Our vision is that Scotland is a nation where the arts and creativity play a central part in the lives, education and well-being of our population and this event is central to that vision.

‘The work that Art in Hospitals does in encouraging patients to express themselves through visual art brings a multitude of benefits. Age or situation should not be a barrier to taking part and, with an ageing population, it’s even more important that this generation finds its creative voice. ’

John Lieser, a participant in the Art in Hospital programme in his 70s said:

‘I think my early paintings were terrible but the artists encouraged me to persevere. I started out by just looking at the paintings in the books and sometimes I just sat there and looked at the flowers.  It’s difficult to explain the feeling that I got when they told me someone had bought one of my paintings at the Art Fair. It was unbelievable. I was choked up. I think it was one of the most important moments of my life. Can you imagine? Someone paid for one of my paintings, then took it home and hung it on their wall. Unbelievable.’

Yvonne Coull, Chair, National Forum on Ageing Futures group said:

‘Creativity should not be limited to hobbies and interests but can manifest itself in the business sector too.  Many older people enjoy good health in later life and use their interests to create income.  However, there are challenges to enhancing creativity that include transport issues, the cost of classes and assumptions and expectations about what older people like to do.  Today will be interesting, exciting and dispel many myths about our ageing population!’

David Cutler, Director of the Baring Foundation said:

‘The Baring Foundation is delighted to be collaborating with Creative Scotland to found a national festival for the creative arts for older people'.

http://www.creativescotland.com/news/creative-ageing-arts-and-older-people-29032011