Creative Journeys Report 2019

66 Creative Journeys 4.8.1 Creating a lasting legacy In stage one of the findings, many of the residents reported negative emotions when the arts programme ended, for example feeling sad, wishing it would continue, and missing it. They thoroughly enjoyed it… they were upset that it had to finish... (Stage one deputy care manager) They keep saying, “It’s a shame when it ended when it did”… they were a bit upset because it had finished, and there was nothing for them to look forward to and that. They were talking about, “Oh, last week, we did this,” and that. They had a good time. They miss it. (Stage one staff member) This highlighted the importance of creating a lasting legacy for time-bound arts programmes. This may take many forms and can itself be part of the creative process. In the case studies for example, Sinfonia Viva with Orchestras Live held a performance that friends and families could attend and a short film was put together about the project. Similarly, during the arts programme Age Exchange created a film of the residents telling their stories, which could be shared with the wider care home as well as relatives of the residents. For Green Candle, the “Hello Song” became a legacy more organically, and at the three month follow-up interviews, residents and staff were still singing this to each other in the corridors and communal areas. Such legacies enabled some residents to have a lasting memory of the programme, and even to re-live some aspects of the experience (e.g. through a film, photos, songs). Sharing these legacies with relatives promoted reciprocity as discussed in the earlier section on relationships between residents and relatives. Furthermore, sharing legacies with care staff helped them to continue to engage with residents about the arts programme, while sharing with senior management teams helped reiterate the importance of arts activities for residents in care homes. The stage two findings also indicated that residents felt proud of working together on arts activities and having something to show for it. They feel very proud of themselves once completion happens. (Stage two activities coordinator) [A]fterwards, seeing the result at the end of it… it’s also rewarding for them to see what they’ve actually achieved. (Stage two activities coordinator) In the spring time we did a gardening session… you should see how beautiful – and that was not my work, it was the residents… Even now, like I said, it’s so rewarding to see that that’s their work… Also, taking the residents out and showing them… Wow, look at these… because they can actually go along and they pick the fruits. (Stage two activities coordinator) On the other hand, the findings particularly from stage one also emphasised the value of impacts that happen in the moment and how this should not be underestimated, as articulated by one arts facilitator.