Executive Summary 2019

Executive Summary 3 Introduction Creative Journeys, is a broad portfolio of participatory arts and cultural activities for older people living in care homes throughout Essex, it began in 2015 and was established and led by Essex County Council Culture and Community Engagement Team. This summary provides an overview of research undertaken by the Anglia Ruskin University team in relation to this project in partnership with an independent research group led by and for older people called the Older People’s Research Group, Essex (OPRGE), who assisted with data collection and analysis. The research funded by Arts Council England (2016-18) explored the role of participatory arts and culture within residential care home settings in developing and maintaining social relationships between older people, between older people and care staff, and between care homes and the wider community. Programmes of participatory arts activities were delivered by Green Candle Dance Company, who create bespoke programmes to enable participation in dancing delivered by a professional dancer and a musician; Age Exchange, who specialise in reminisence arts through the creative exploration of memories; and Sinfonia Viva with Orchestras Live who bring orchestral experiences to residents by playing music, singing together and composing an original piece of music that is performed with a live professional orchestra.