Arts Council funding to support older people across borough

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has announced £110,000 to enable twelve arts organisations in Northern Ireland to deliver a series of community-based arts projects benefitting older people.

A total of £110,000 is being donated to enable 12 arts organisations in Northern Ireland to deliver a series of community-based arts projects benefitting older people.

Mid and East Antrim Age-Well Partnerships (MEAAP) is a local inter-agency based partnership aimed at improving the lives of older people aged 60 years and over in the Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus areas.

The funding is part of the Arts and Older People’s Programme, a pioneering initiative supported by National Lottery, Public Health Agency and Baring Foundation, which aims to tackle loneliness as-well as promote positive mental health and well-being among older people through engagement with the arts.

The programme has been designed to challenge perceptions of what it means to be an older person. To date the programme has provided just under £2m funding to community organisations and voluntary groups across Northern Ireland in the delivery of 196 arts projects to older people.

Lorraine Calderwood, Community Development Officer at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: “Research has proven that taking part in arts activities can raise self-esteem, confidence and motivation, as well as aid in relieving stress, worries and also pain.

“The Arts and Older People’s Programme is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our older people to take part in arts activities, enriching their lives for the better.

“The arts have a vital role to play in helping older people find their voice and express the issues which can often affect them on a day-to-day basis, thus promoting positive physical and mental health.

“The Arts Council is hugely proud to have supported 196 projects since the programme began and we’re delighted today to announce that a further 12 arts organisations will be supported to deliver projects with funding of £110,000.”

In this exceptional year of pandemic, the Arts Council’s application process was limited to a number of previous recipients with experience in delivering online or socially distanced arts projects to older vulnerable people living with dementia.

MEAAP will use their Arts and Older People’s Programme funding to deliver an intergenerational project, Generations Together, to seven care homes and seven schools.

They have already successfully delivered Term 1 of this project and this Arts Council funding will enable them to further develop the project by providing artist facilitation and materials to the schools and care homes that are taking part in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne.

The project is expected to reach 280 participants including 210 school children and 70 care home residents, many of whom have long term health conditions including dementia.

Another element of the project will deliver a series of pre-recorded arts and reminiscence sessions online to residents in care homes enabling staff to facilitate 121 sessions with residents whilst they are having too self-isolate.”

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