A CHALLENGE FOR A GREAT CAUSE!

My Uncle is taking part in an INSANE challenge of biking 100Km on the 10th of May to support ACORN - a charity that supports families caring for individuals living with Dementia. 

PLEASE SUPPORT IF YOU CAN:
http://www.justgiving.com/Nigel-Brunyee?utm_source=email&utm_medium=emails-from-eua&utm_content=shorturl&utm_campaign=eua-email-sponsorshiprequest

iPad engAGE Development...

LOTS OF iPad engAGE News!! 

Check it out at: www.ipad-engage.blogspot.com

We have recently been training and facilitating on 'Live' Projects before starting this week in the four selected Abbeyfield Care Homes! (See the blog above for all the extra details!)

Salford Museum and Art Gallery - Creative Boxes Developed and Ready for Loan!

I was commissioned to design and build two Creative Boxes for Salford Museum and Art Gallery for Residential Care Homes (specifically for residents with Dementia) to loan out for two week periods. 

The two themes we decided to develop were - 'Afternoon Tea' and 'Adventures'…the idea that both themes would expand into other themes and ideas such as Holidays, Picnics, The Seaside etc. I designed around 12 sensory and interactive creative activities in which all the materials are found within the resource. 

In December we ran two full days of training for Care Staff to learn and understand how to best use the Creative Loan Boxes and they will be going out for loan in the next couple of weeks! Care Staff were very complimentary and enthusiastic about how to incorporate the resources into their settings so i look forward to hearing any feedback or developments as they begin getting used...

The idea of Creative Loan Boxes is the complete opposite of Reminiscence Boxes…and in fact they are based around Imagination and the Present Moment, improving well-being significantly. 

New Inspiring Website developed by Bruce Devereux

www.engagecreatively.com 

Engage Creatively is a concept developed by Bruce Devereux…it is a fantastic space to document, share and collaborate with other innovative and fascinating projects across the world. Keep updated for new developments and posts...

Check out this project (one which i feel has great potential in Innovative Mixed Art Form Collaboration): 
http://www.engagecreatively.com/1/post/2013/12/framework-open-collaborative-production-company.html 

HIT RECORD is a Open Record Collaborative Company in which you can manipulate someone else's work through your own Art Form and vice versa. What a great way of development? And a free / exploratory way of doing so!! I hope to develop some pieces from iPad engAGE on here…so WATCH THIS SPACE!!

At present i am writing a piece for this website based on the iPad engAGE Project so keep posted for when it goes live!

ArtWorks, Sunderland University

I have collaborated with a variety of Artists and Academics to deliver a mixture of Seminars and Lectures in Newcastle as part of the ArtWorks programme, supported by Sunderland University. 

It has been really interesting and inspiring speaking and debating to others in the same field, discussing policies and practices. It has made me more aware of my personal morals and ethics i have put into place for projects i facilitate and deliver alongside things i need to alter or improve on. These seminars have allowed space and time to think and reflect, which you rarely get chance to do. 

Painting Memories Project FAME in Helen McArdle Care News!

The RT Project 'Painting Memories' that i facilitated on at Melbury Court in Durham has recently been issued in the latest Helen McArdle Care Newsletter which is issued to all of the Care Homes!!

Jacky, the Activities Co-ordinator at Melbury has been writing an ongoing blog in which Day One was documented in the Newsletter - with other posts on their way in the next editions...

iPad engAGE goes to the 'Art of Good Health and Well-being' Conference in Sydney, Australia

During November i have had the fantastic opportunity of attending and facilitating iPad engAGE workshops at the 'Art of Good Health and Well-being' Conference in Sydney, Australia. 

We started off with a Critical Mass meeting held by Mike White from Durham, discussing collaboration in a wider context. It really got everyone debating and sharing ideas of how to take this forward so the 'Arts and Health' worlds could collaborate effectively. (The group from Critical Mass is shown in the snap above!)

The conference then began on the Tuesday - full of presentations, workshops, choirs, hospital clowns - finishing the conference with a communal dance piece!! It was a great experience and i found out about international Projects and Research that are ongoing across the world. 

The iPad engAGE workshops worked well and even got to collaborate with Simone Flavelle from DADAA on the stARTspeak project (using iPads creatively for individuals with learning disabilities). This was a huge learning point for me as it opened up the possibility of iPad engAGE and who it is focussed at.

I look forward to seeing which collaborations and discussions evolve as a result from this fabulous conference!!

Creative Care, A Helix Arts Project

As part of the Helix Arts Project - 'Creative Care' two artists were appointed for different sections of time. This meant that i could co-collaborate with Claire Webster-Saaremets and come up with themes for the workshops with separate outcomes - both Visual Arts and Music / Theatre. 

One of the themes was 'Weather' with some of the Visual Outcomes shown above. With Creative Care been a Pilot Project we are now looking into ways of how the outcomes can become ONE as a final piece...watch this space for developments... 

A few more from the 'Painting Memories' Project

I thought i would share a few more snaps from the 'Painting Memories' Project which were taken by RT Projects. I think they really sum up the importance of the Arts and how the workshops have been beneficial for carers to communicate effectively with their loved ones who have Dementia. 
The 'Painting Memories' Project has now come to an end at Melbury Court but i will be started in a new Residential Care Home come January - so keep posted to find out more about their Creative Journey!

Painting Memories Project

The Painting Memories Project is now in full swing in which i am working on at Melbury Court in Durham. The aim is to inspire new ways of communication in the present moment. It is not about reminiscence. Therefore multi-sensory and tactile visual art activities are opening new opportunities for discussion! It is amazing how powerful the arts can be....

Creative Care Project, Helix Arts

I am really excited to start a new project called 'Creative Care' which is working with Age UK in Gateshead to develop a new set of creative activities on behalf of Helix Arts. Keep updated for developments!

iPad Creative Workshops at Rural Arts and The Bradbury Centre!

We have recently released lots of iPad Creative Workshops at both Rural Arts in Thirsk and at the Bradbury Centre in Castleton. Why not come and unleash your creative potential using an iPad? 

For dates, prices and art specialist iPad workshops:

For Rural Art Workshops visit:
http://www.ruralarts.org/product_categories/digital-courses/

For Bradbury Centre Workshops visit: 
http://www.abbeyfield.com/accommodation-search/northern/e/esk-moors-lodge-bradbury-centre-yo21-2ed/

Film development at the Castle Museum, York

After six weeks of workshops, discussions, laughs and honesty we have recorded a range of medium that will be developed into a short film, as part of funding that was given by the York Committee on behalf of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The film will present how individuals live 'WELL' with Dementia, showing the journey to be life changing and certainly not life ending. 

Keep Posted for the final Film on:

www.enrichinglifewithcreativeexpression.blogspot.com 

iPad engAGE is supported by CrowdFunder and Arts Council England to its next Phase!

Great News! iPad engAGE has been re-funded by Arts Council England to develop onto Phase Two of its creative journey!! This means that there will be a total of four artists working in Residential Care Homes across the North East for a significant amount of time using iPads to develop Creativity, improving lives of individuals living with Dementia!

This funding will also be supporting iPad engAGE to go to Australia to deliver a workshop and share findings and visions for the future with leaders in this work from all over the world! 

On top of this CrowdFunder UK has showcased iPad engAGE and due to the support of backers we have raised enough support to purchase four additional iPads! They will be developed onto a loan system for families and individuals as well as in the upcoming phase two - with many creative exhibitions along the way!

If you would like additional information on iPad engAGE visit:

www.ipad-engage.blogspot.co.uk 

iPad engAGE on Crowd Funder!!

 

 

We are NEARLY THERE!! iPad engAGE is on Crowd Funder UK and we hope to raise £2000 to buy four new iPads. These four iPads will be developed into a loan system for individuals with Dementia who cannot afford to buy one themselves. Training and support will be given to these individuals, supported by regular workshops, concluding in a Creative Outcome Exhibition.

If you would like to find out more about the iPad engAGE Project go to:
http://www.ipad-engage.blogspot.co.uk/

WE NEED YOUR HELP to reach our goal!!

If you would like to pledge - you will then be part of the iPad engAGE Community, receive your reward and be part of the weekly updates and newsletter.
You can help here at:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ipad-engage/

Painting Memories Project, RT Projects

RT Projects have developed a new project called 'Painting Memories' which uses Visual Arts to transform communication for individuals with Dementia. It is inspired by the 'Meet Me at MOMA' project in New York and will incorporate Gallery Visits too.

I will be delivering on part of the project and i am excited to put into practice all of my experience and aspire to develop in Gallery stimulation for individuals with Dementia. I am really looking forward to this project as it incorporates all of my experience!

Keep Posted for developments and photographs!

Mental Health Support..

I have been asked to deliver three six week workshops at various settings across the Hambleton and Richmondshire Districts. They will consist of Taster Workshops developing into more detailed techniques and finished pieces.

You can see how Mental Health Support embeds into its communities here: 
http://www.4mhs.org/

THE WHITWORTH WEEKENDING!!

The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester is under construction and therefore holding a huge closing event from Friday 30th of August to Sunday 1st of September! Its a must VISIT and must SEE with fantastic Drop In Activities along with LIVE Music and Digital Performances!

Check this link out for an overview of what is taking place:
http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whatson/exhibitions/weekending/

I will be facilitating these two activities:

Clay Creations Get messy making mythical forest creatures to hide around the park.

Painting with Nature
Make a paintbrush with sticks, twigs, leaves and your imagination and create your own masterpiece

COME AND SAY HI!

Castle Museum Project, York

I have recently begun a new project working at the Castle Museum in York. The idea is to develop a film with individuals with Dementia (living at home) about 'living with Dementia' and their experiences. We are the initial stages at the moment and this will conclude at the end of September. This is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and directed by Emily Abbott.

Keep Posted for the final film!

4D Project NOW COMPLETED!

My work with the 4D Creative team is now coming to an end. We have been working at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool for the last few months on their Dementia Ward. It has been an adventure developing stimulus to inspire conversation and activity on the ward using the 4D Technology. We will conclude our journey next week with the final Evaluations.