Every January, we invite museums, arts centres, active retirement groups, galleries, libraries, nursing homes to join us and organise an arts event (or events) for the month May that celebrates creativity as we age. As a result, the Bealtaine family grew in 2012 to 675 organisers who, together, hosted over 3,700 events in theatre, the visual arts, film, photography, music, literature and craft. Over 115,000 people attended Bealtaine events in 2012.

The theme for 2013 is ‘Grow Happy’, which encompasses positivity, cheerfulness, growth, and is inspired by WB Yeats’ quote: “Happiness is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing”.