Performance art or aerial circus aren’t usually the kind of entertainment on offer care homes for older people, but a new project from intergenerational arts charity Magic Me is set to challenge the norm for the arts in care homes.
 
Starting this Autumn, four London care homes, run by not-for-profit care provider Anchor, will host a residency with one of four participating arts organisations – immersive theatre company Punchdrunk; performance and events collective Duckie; performance artist and activist Lois Weaver; and circus and aerial theatre company Upswing.
 
During a residency of between three and six months, artists and performers will run activities with residents, their families and care home staff, working together to create new artworks and performances. Drawing on over two decades of experience and expertise in running arts projects in care homes, Magic Me will support and advise the artists on how to best shape activities and present their work for care home residents, including those with dementia.
 
Susan Langford MBE, Director of Magic Me, commented: “Because of frailty, dementia or low energy levels, older people in care homes just don’t get out to the theatre or arts events, which many Londoners take for granted.  We are thrilled to be working with these four arts partners and Anchor to bring the very highest quality arts to older people living in care homes.”

Debbie Sharples Kirkbride MBE from Anchor added: “This creative partnership will not only bring enjoyment and new experiences, both within the care homes and in the wider community, but it will also provide our care staff with specialist knowledge and training.”

The project aims to test new approaches and ideas, document what works and why, and share this learning with the arts and care sectors, through published reports and seminar events.
 
The project began on Wednesday 1 July with training for artists and will run over 2 years.