BRFM Live Art Practice Wellbeing Inspired Network Group ‘LAPWING’ at the 26th January Creative Care Expo
Written by karen on 6 January 2017
The LAPWING project is an ‘arts for dementia and arts for community mental health wellbeing’ project, aiming to build the confidence, capability and capacity of Kent’s local artists. The partnership is led by Age UK Canterbury and has been supported by Kent Creative Arts CIC. It aims to promote more dementia-friendly and mental health-alert communities through creative professionals who help to enhance the wellbeing of older and vulnerable people in Kent through creative activities.
At the Creative Care Expo at KCC Sessions House in Maidstone, Fay Blair, LAPWING project manager, along with Gerry Atkinson LAPWING trainer and photojournalist, will be demonstrating the progress of the project to date. This will mention the residencies of 8 LAPWING-trained artists who undertook work with people in Canterbury, Faversham and Sheppey; some involving students from Simon
Langton Girls’ Grammar as part of their ‘Talking
Trees’ social visits to AgeUK Canterbury and Cranmer House. The impact and outcomes of this project work with some of the fabulous artwork produced by the residents with the artists during these valuable sessions will be on display.
Four of the LAPWING project artists engaged residents – many of whom live with demenita – in rewarding creative activities over a programme of sessions held from Augugst to the beginning of November 2016 at Barton Court Care, Minster, Isle of Sheppey.
There will also be two LAPWING taster sessions at the expo.
The first taster session will be led by Chris Reed (performer and artistic director of Big Fish Arts), Jo Eden (mixed-media artist, poet, singer-songwriter) and Julie Bradshaw (who creates installations, sculpts, makes films and paints). This team, who worked on Sheppey at Barton Court Care Home (with residents who live with dementia) will demonstrate their most effective memory generation and sharing activities using mixed media.
The second taster session will be led by Catherine Arnell of Espression Arts. As a LAPWING project artist, she has led sessions at Barton Court Care Home and facilitated projects at with members at Age UK Canterbury. Catherine encourages participation, imagination and creation through a number of skills, including painting, drawing and fine motor skills through ceramic/clay work. Results of her workshops have included pride, ownership and a sense of empowerment as residents’ murals and designs have been used to decorate and brighten the environment.
The ceramic tile mural made by residents from Barton Court Care with artist Catherine Arnell
The expo is organised by Kent Dementia Action Alliance. All the expo events and taster sessions are free of charge, but must be booked in advance either online at
https://culturecares-kentexpo.eventbrite.co.uk or call Jaye on 07904 643 770.
The LAPWING project is led by Age UK Canterbury and funded by Arts Council England with Canterbury City Council, NHS Canterbury & Coastal CCG, Kent County Council and other local sponsors. For more information about the project contact Fay Blair fayblair@hotmail.com
