Equal Arts

Equal Arts

At a glance

Causes

  • Arts
  • Health and well being / research and care
  • Older people / later life

Other details

Geographical remit: 
National - England

Objectives

Equal Arts are advocates of creative ageing, providing opportunities for self-expression to help improve wellbeing.

We strongly believe in the positive health impacts of the arts and support care staff and artists delivering musical, visual and movement-based creative activities with active older people and in dementia care settings.

In recent years we have explored the effects of creative activity on people experiencing early signs of dementia, and people over 60 who were isolated and therefore at risk of developing mental health problems.

Our well-established understanding and delivery of creative ageing has seen us asked to inform and advise many organisations over the years, below are just some of our highlights:

  • Being asked to be a part of the current advisory group for the Government’s initiative to make the arts sector more dementia friendly
  • Received an international award in 2011 for Innovation in Arts and Health from Arts & Health Australia
  • Advising the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust on arts and older people since 2012
  • Delivering a presentation at Tate Modern in 2012 and working with the Royal Academy the same year on supporting the arts sector to deliver arts and dementia projects
  • Delivering a presentation and workshop at Practice and Progress: The MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) Alzheimer’s Project Exchange in New York in 2013
  • Staged a presentation about our work at the 5th International Arts and Health Conference in Sydney, Australia in November 2013.

Activities

We are the North East’s creative ageing charity pioneering work in this field. More recently, we have expanded our reach to other parts of the UK including London and Leeds with our HenPower project. Specialising in this area for more than 30 years we have built up a strong track record providing creative opportunities for older people. 

We strive to improve the quality of life for older people working with those living independently and in care settings as well as providing training for the care sector and supporting research in the field.

There is mounting evidence about the positive effects of creativity for older people involved in activities such as music and dance, creative writing, arts and crafts, gardening and hen-keeping. 

We bring the arts and care sectors together in pioneering projects working with care staff, cultural venues and schools while informing Government advisors and public health organisations about arts and dementia.

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