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Open Access Arts

Dementia-friendly Alton are so pleased to be working alongside Open Access Arts who are currently 'in residence' 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 are enjoying a programme of creative workshops and activities, from the multi award-winning creatives, who are experts in relation to social inclusion in Arts and Wellbeing.  The Residency, spanning July 2024 - January 2025, will provide a comprehensive range of workshops that will enable our 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 script for 'The Sharing - entitled Do I know You?' scheduled for 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 explore the assumptions that can limit opportunities when there is a diagnosis or even an 'inkling' of dementia.  Be prepared to rethink those assumptions and ideas, as members of Dementia-friendly Alton, under the effective coaching of Open Access Arts - prepare to amaze the audience with 'whats possible'!!! 

The 'Do I Know You?' - the Programme:

The Pieces Poem Project - Members of the Community are invited to engage with us and Open Access Arts - Join the collection of shared thoughts and experiences in the Post Box Collection.  Post a message or ditty into the box (one outside and one inside the Assembly Rooms) 

'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 will run from Sept to Dec  - to co-produce and prepare for the final show

Festive Fun - 22nd November - coinciding with the Yuletide Festival - there will be a festive retreat in the Assembly Rooms - why not join us and we get into the Festive spirit 

Do we know each other better now? - Do I know you? - as the journey taken is shared with the audience - Will you be in the audience??  - we do hope so.    December 13th and 20th - Live theatre events - FREE to attend - please come along. This will be an amazing FINALE - but its not the end 

The Legacy - throughout January 2025 - Open Access Arts will work alongside Dementia-friendly Alton, to 'hatch a plan' going forward. Its not the end - the Legacy is just the start of more creative works to follow.  

 

 

Dementia-friendly Alton Open Access Arts
Dementia-friendly Alton Open Access Arts
Dementia-friendly Alton Open Access Arts