Creative Journeys Report 2019

48 Creative Journeys As stated previously, all the arts organisations used a circle formation and as a result residents often sat nearer to each other and because they were in a circle were facing others and could talk across the circle, something which wasn’t always possible in communal areas. Indeed, throughout the stage one observations, interviews and focus groups, residents were very engaged with the arts activities. Residents were committed and motivated to attend all sessions and according to feedback from staff were more focused during the sessions than they usually were day-to-day. There was no pressure to participate; residents could get involved when and how they wanted to, which is a common feature of participatory group work and staff in particular noted this made a big difference. It’s the non-pressure atmosphere... Give them open questions so they don’t have to specifically remember something they can’t remember... having a very relaxed atmosphere, that it just does everything for you. It really helps. That’s the main thing for me. It’s really amazing. (Stage one activities coordinator) Moreover in the survey, respondents cited the importance of arts activities being fun and engaging, which meant that even if the activity didn’t work it could still become a point of discussion and conversation. The notion of fun and humour in participatory group work was observed in stage one, particularly in the Age Exchange sessions. As the weeks progressed, the residents became more playful and humorous with each other, the arts facilitators, and the activities coordinators. For example, when a balloon pump was passed around the group and one of the facilitators asked “What would you use this for?” one resident responded “Colonic irrigation?” and much laughter from the group then ensued. Residents increasingly shared humorous stories from their own lives with the rest of the group. Every day that they joined in, it brought them a day of excitement. (Stage one activities coordinator) Furthermore, stage one findings revealed that is was not just about arts activities being participatory in nature, but that they also allowed for different levels of engagement and participation. Taking Green Candle as an example, during observations the arts facilitator would give instructions and demonstrate a dance move for residents to follow, such as reaching their hands up to the ceiling then swooping down to the floor. Clearly not all residents could manage the full range of the movement, but were actively encouraged to reach to the extent that they could, even just with hands reaching shoulder height and down to their knees for example. In addition, if the arts facilitator noticed a resident improvising their own dance move when the suggested movement was too difficult, this would be incorporated as the next move for everyone to follow, with credit to the resident choreographer. We built slowly into the classes the opportunity for them to have free time where they could move in their own way and explore in their own way. We, obviously, used different sensory props and things in order to encourage that. I was really impressed with the high-quality of the skills that they developed in that way. (Stage one arts facilitator) Valuing each individual (both residents and staff) but also incorporating their actions into the group work was also recognised in the stage two arts organisations focus group.