Creative Journeys Report 2019

30 Creative Journeys identity and camaraderie, and as a result developed new and existing friendships. The qualitative data strongly indicated that participants in the groups did feel more connected to others. With stage one, participants reported feelings of closeness and camaraderie that suggested the arts activities built a sense of community. Yes, it’s made it more a communal feeling. (Stage one activities coordinator) We didn’t know each other before but we all felt close [during the arts programme]. (Stage one resident) I think they really interacted really, really well with each other, which created a very fantastic group dynamic. The best kinds of group sessions are always when the group take off, when they take off and that camaraderie… They listen to each other’s stories. (Stage one arts facilitator) Residents in the stage one activities became part of a group and were able to build a new group identity as a member of a “club” . Residents felt that they were part of something special and this was particularly reinforced when they received feedback from others about what they had been doing. We were celebrities, weren’t we?. (Stage one resident) Building on the feeling of camaraderie, participating in arts activities together helped them to strengthen existing friendships, or develop new ones. [Margaret] was a bit down because she was new here, but she’s got friends now. She’s made friends. She’s got a best friend in [Mary] now because of [the arts programme]. (Stage one staff member) Helping and encouraging each other and team work builds friendships. (Survey respondent) I think coming together on those sessions, and then finally with the end result… I think that definitely benefitted with certain friendships, because friendships have grown here. Different people, friendship groups, were being stronger because of it. (Stage one care manager) It was particularly interesting in the stage one findings to identify the sense of collective enjoyment of participatory arts activities where residents were not only having a good time together, but they were happy because they could see that other residents were also enjoying themselves.