Creative Arts
Members of Dementia-friendly Alton are pleased to have worked alongside Open Access Arts who have completed a 6 month residency at Alton Assembly Rooms. Thanks to grants from the Power of Music Fund (supported by National Academy for Social Prescribing, Arts Council England, Music for Dementia, Utley Foundation, Music for All) and the Belpech Trust, members and carers at Dementia-friendly Alton enjoyed a programme of creative workshops and activities. The Residency, spanning July 2024 - January 2025, provided a comprehensive range of workshops that enabled members to 'feel engaged and empowered', some activities to encourage collaboration with members of the local community and community outreach to promote co-production of 'The Sharing' - Three Live Theatre events held on 13th and 20th December. The opportunity for our members to host their own 'show' on our beautiful stage in our very first year at the Assembly Rooms was too good to miss. 'Do I Know You' will explored the assumptions that can limit opportunities when there is a diagnosis or even an 'inkling' of dementia.
The 'Do I Know You?' - the Programme:
The Pieces Poem Project - Members of the Community were invited to engage with us and Open Access Arts - Join the collection of shared thoughts and experiences in the Post Box Collection.
'Holiday at Home' - For one day only the Ballroom at Alton Assembly Rooms was transformed into a Beach Party - we sang holiday songs, made sand castles, ate ice cream and celebrated ALL THINGS HOLIDAY - What a fiesta!!
Sofa Stories - Using the back drop of the very popular 'Alton Car Show' - Open Access Arts set up a sofa in a gazebo on the lawn outside the Assembly Rooms. The constant flow of Altonians (and others) who were happy to sit on the sofa and share their views / experiences of Alton / the Assembly Rooms and anything else they wanted to talk about, gave great insight for Open Access Arts into whats important 'for Alton' and what needs to find its way into the final show. Darth Vader making an appearance in the sofa gazebo was the 'icing on the cake' !!
Creative and Kindness Workshops for our members were delivered from Sept to Dec - to co-produce and prepare for the final show
The Legacy - on completion of the Residency with Open Access Arts - Dementia-friendly Alton will to 'hatch a plan' going forward. Its not the end - it's just the start of more creative works to follow. Watch this space.
