About
Creative Conversations, a rural collaboration led by Arts Alive and MediaActive Projects, was a three and a half year partnership development that linked experienced agencies and individuals for arts, and community, to help establish a new exciting Shropshire-wide development.
We aimed to generate new local opportunities for people, aged 55 and over and including those at risk of loneliness, to get creative, to take part, to enjoy the arts, and to raise their voices and celebrate their creativity and life experiences.
Alongside the shared ambition to increase access and provision for older people, was the concern to build capacity at a local level. We did this in partnership with the community, health and social care providers, the council, and by investing in our community of artists, through bespoke training, professional development and commission opportunities.
We aimed to generate new local opportunities for people, aged 55 and over and including those at risk of loneliness, to get creative, to take part, to enjoy the arts, and to raise their voices and celebrate their creativity and life experiences.
Alongside the shared ambition to increase access and provision for older people, was the concern to build capacity at a local level. We did this in partnership with the community, health and social care providers, the council, and by investing in our community of artists, through bespoke training, professional development and commission opportunities.
Community groups, organisations and venues involved have included:
Age UK Choirs in Shropshire and Telford, Age UK Diamond Drop Ins, U3A, Wem Town Hall, Qube, The Mayfair Centre, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Montgomery House Care Home, Millington Hospital Almshouses, The Redwoods Centre, Greenacres Sheltered Housing, SAND, (safer ageing no discrimination), Time Together, Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, Shropshire Libraries: Whitchurch / Market Drayton/ Church Stretton/ Ludlow, Bishops Castle Town Hall, Craven Arms Community Centre, Theatre Severn, Cliffdale Care Home, The Hive, Whitchurch Town Hall, Betjemen Lodge, Stone House Care Home, Whitefriars, and The Grange Sheltered Housing. Thanks to The Eveson Trust, the On Your Doorstep show also toured out of county to: About Face Theatre, Leominster, MAC, Birmingham, Ledbury Market Theatre, Leominster Library, Burley Gate Village Hall, Lady Emily Hall, Tarrington, and Burghill Village Hall.
Age UK Choirs in Shropshire and Telford, Age UK Diamond Drop Ins, U3A, Wem Town Hall, Qube, The Mayfair Centre, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Montgomery House Care Home, Millington Hospital Almshouses, The Redwoods Centre, Greenacres Sheltered Housing, SAND, (safer ageing no discrimination), Time Together, Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, Shropshire Libraries: Whitchurch / Market Drayton/ Church Stretton/ Ludlow, Bishops Castle Town Hall, Craven Arms Community Centre, Theatre Severn, Cliffdale Care Home, The Hive, Whitchurch Town Hall, Betjemen Lodge, Stone House Care Home, Whitefriars, and The Grange Sheltered Housing. Thanks to The Eveson Trust, the On Your Doorstep show also toured out of county to: About Face Theatre, Leominster, MAC, Birmingham, Ledbury Market Theatre, Leominster Library, Burley Gate Village Hall, Lady Emily Hall, Tarrington, and Burghill Village Hall.
One of only four initiatives to be funded in the whole of the Midlands through the Celebrating Age programme, jointly funded by the Arts Council through the National Lottery and the Baring Foundation, the project partnership included: Shropshire Council, Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, social housing providers Connexus, along with a number of community organisations, including Wem Town Hall and SAND (Safer Ageing No Discrimination).
From the outset in April 2018, the project sought to offer a breadth of artforms and cultural experiences in a variety of contexts and locations, reflecting the collaboration between the two lead organisations, whilst also responding to the interests of our many rural and community-based partners. As such, the menu of opportunities has included performing arts, digital arts and cinema, and sometimes a combination of them all! Activity took place in: day centres, care homes, community and cultural spaces, and online, giving older people, 55 to 100+ years a chance to take part in an array of arts activities and events including: storytelling, music making, singing, poetry, visual arts, movement and dance, touring theatre, filmmaking, animation, digital arts, Live Cinema, exhibition, and the creative use of technology.
Although the project was interrupted by the pandemic, delivery continued by pivoting workshops and events to online sessions, with some outdoor activity.
From the outset in April 2018, the project sought to offer a breadth of artforms and cultural experiences in a variety of contexts and locations, reflecting the collaboration between the two lead organisations, whilst also responding to the interests of our many rural and community-based partners. As such, the menu of opportunities has included performing arts, digital arts and cinema, and sometimes a combination of them all! Activity took place in: day centres, care homes, community and cultural spaces, and online, giving older people, 55 to 100+ years a chance to take part in an array of arts activities and events including: storytelling, music making, singing, poetry, visual arts, movement and dance, touring theatre, filmmaking, animation, digital arts, Live Cinema, exhibition, and the creative use of technology.
Although the project was interrupted by the pandemic, delivery continued by pivoting workshops and events to online sessions, with some outdoor activity.
Arts Alive and MediaActive served as Project Managers and Creative Producers, co-designing the programme of activities and events in consultation with the host organisations, groups and participating individuals, and with our team of Creative Conversations artists. However, it should be noted, that the bespoke nature of every workshop and residency benefitted hugely from the skills and experience of the artists, who were recruited for their specialist artform and community experience, and commitment to working creatively with and alongside older people.
The core creative team were: Adrian Plant (Musicologist & Curator), Jill Impey (Visual & Digital Artist), Sally Tonge (Storyteller & Musician), Jean Atkin (Poet and Writer), Rachel Liggitt (Dance Artist), Samantha Moore (Animator), Dea Paradisos (Visual Artist) and Hannah Prior (Theatre Maker), Sian Allen & Cerin Mills (Creative Producers /Arts Alive), and Sue Gainsborough (Creative Producer/MediaActive). Importantly, 75% of the creative team were 55 and over.
The artists had opportunity to work solo, in a variety of community settings, and the project also afforded opportunity for artists to collaborate and to share skills with each other, as well as with the participants.
The core creative team were: Adrian Plant (Musicologist & Curator), Jill Impey (Visual & Digital Artist), Sally Tonge (Storyteller & Musician), Jean Atkin (Poet and Writer), Rachel Liggitt (Dance Artist), Samantha Moore (Animator), Dea Paradisos (Visual Artist) and Hannah Prior (Theatre Maker), Sian Allen & Cerin Mills (Creative Producers /Arts Alive), and Sue Gainsborough (Creative Producer/MediaActive). Importantly, 75% of the creative team were 55 and over.
The artists had opportunity to work solo, in a variety of community settings, and the project also afforded opportunity for artists to collaborate and to share skills with each other, as well as with the participants.
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