Experience: Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person

What is Experience: Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person?

Experience: An Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person is an online learning initiative for arts practitioners led by Age & Opportunity and Réalta (formerly Waterford Healing Arts Trust). Experience was devised in 2021 in response to the need for more training and practical orientation for arts practitioners who already have experience of participatory work in a health context, and who are interested in developing their practice to include working with older people. Participants described the programme as ‘inspiring and beneficial’, ‘uplifting’, ‘insightful’, ‘useful’, ‘important’ and ‘essential’ with people highlighting the expertise and passion of the speakers, and the opportunity to interact with fellow artists.

How does it work?

This programme aims to outline the essential elements involved in working with older people in an arts and health context, and features presentations by some of the most experienced and inspiring practitioners working in this specialised field of practice.

Previous Experience Events:

Experience 2024
Experience 2023
Experience 2022 and the Response to Experience 2022
Experience 2021 and the Response to Experience 2021

How can I get involved?

If you are a professional artist who has a background in working in an arts and health context, has your own practice and are interested in learning more about working with older people in a care setting, Experience: Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person might be of interest to you.

If you are a professional artist who has an interest and background in the arts and older people (in a care context), and has your own practice, the Artists Care Exchange (ACE) might be of interest to you. We encourage artists who have previously participated in our Introduction to Arts, Health and the Older Person programme to consider applying, as ACE provides a natural progression to further their understanding and skills for working in care settings.

If you have an arts background, but do not work as a professional artist or do not have previous experience working in a health context, the 2 day Age & Opportunity training initiative Creative Exchanges may be more suitable for you.

Contact

For information or support, speak to our Arts team.
01 913 3921
arts@ageandopportunity.ie

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT: This strand is intended to encourage and facilitate more older people to participate in the arts, and to enhance the experience of audiences.

Arts Initiatives:

Bealtaine Festival

A month long collaborative festival in May featuring performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings by artists working in different art forms all over Ireland. Find out more here.

Cultural Companions

Works with the local authorities to create local networks of like-minded people interested in arts and culture who can accompany each other to cultural events. Find out more.

Artists' Supports

Age & Opportunity runs a number of initiatives that support artists. Find out more.

National Arts in Nursing Homes Day

A day that celebrates the creative activity taking place in Irish care settings. Find out more.

Supports for Care Settings

We have a range of creative supports for care settings. Find out more.

Supports for Arts Organisations

Age & Opportunity supports arts organisations through a number of initiatives. Find out more here.

Arts and Creative Charter

The Charter is a set of eight commitments to older arts participants, audiences and artists in Ireland Find out more.