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Research

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What is our Research?

We are working to ensure that our programmes and initiatives are informed and driven by best practice, as well as review and evaluation. In conjunction with our policy and research function, we aim to explore and evaluate key thinking and new knowledge in relation to the arts and ageing.

How does it work?

Age & Opportunity is engaged in numerous research initiatives, read on for further details and learn about our ongoing work in this area.

How can I get involved?

To keep updated on this work, sign up to our newsletter at the link in the footer.

What is the Creative Enquiry?

The Creative Enquiry is an investigative collaborative venture that creatively explores fresh approaches to arts engagement with older people and advances best practice models.

How does it work?

Creative Enquiry is a strategic partnership between Cork City and County Council Arts Offices, the HSE, Age & Opportunity, Cork Midsummer Festival, MusicAlive and SIRIUS with the support of the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon Invitation to Collaboration scheme.

The focus of the Creative Enquiry in 2020 was three artist-residency and older-people-engagement projects, hosted by Cork Midsummer Festival, MusicAlive and SIRIUS. What Next? presents insights from that experience via a podcast series, online workshops and a publication to further inform both practice and policy related to the Arts and Older People.

How can I get involved?

You can read the report on the Creative Enquiry Artist Residency and Older People Engagement project here. You can access a page of related resources and outputs resulting from the Creative Enquiry here.

To keep up to date on the Creative Enquiry news, events and opportunities, sign up to our newsletter.

What is The Evaluative Register?

Led by Create, Ireland’s national development agency for collaborative arts, we, together with Fingal Arts Office Public Art Programme, the Engagement and Learning Programme at the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the University of Limerick have embarked on creating a new evaluative register for collaborative practice. The aim is to make cogent and salient arguments, informed by the critical concerns of collaborative /socially engaged practice at both an institutional and most particularly a policy level.


How does it work?

The research phase has concluded and the evaluative register is in progress. A special In Conversation event was held in 2020 with renowned US-based art historian and educator Grant Kester, and Gráinne Coughlan, Independent Researcher and PhD candidate TU Dublin. The event was chaired by Professor Kerstin Mey, President, University of Limerick. Listen to the recording here.

How can I get involved?

The evaluative register is currently in progress. To keep updated on this work, sign up to our newsletter at the link in the footer.

 

What is the Bealtaine Evaluation?

Each year we conduct an evaluation which surveys our audiences, partners and national organisers to ascertain key feedback and information on the festival. From the evaluation we yield quantitative information such as the numbers attending events, the numbers of partners, the numbers of events, and how much is expended on festival events. However, perhaps more significantly we also gather more information on who is coming to our events, how they view our events and what they would like to see more of, as well as other critical feedback.

How does it work?

Following the festival in May, we conduct this evaluation using a combination of organisation survey and desk work, as well as collecting audience surveys distributed through the festival partners.

How can I get involved?

Every year after the festival, audience surveys will be made available to attendees. For news on Bealtaine Festival events, surveys, and evaluation, sign up to our newsletter at the link in the footer.

Read the previous evaluations:

Bealtaine 2021 Evaluation

Bealtaine 2020 Evaluation

Bealtaine 2019 Evaluation

What is the Creative Ageing Writing Bursary?

The Age & Opportunity Creative Ageing Writing Bursary aims to generate discussion, debate and knowledge about creative ageing in Ireland.

How does it work?

The bursary is intended to afford time and space for an artist/ writer to reflect on their practice – the learnings, insights but also challenges they have faced. The writer/artist might also want to consider how they have approached working with older people and the learnings generated through that.

One award of €1000 will be made to the successful applicant.

How can I get involved?

The applications for the 2022 bursary are now closed. The inaugural bursary has been awarded to actor and playwright, Noelle Brown.

We are delighted to share Noelle’s resulting essay commissioned by Age & Opportunity, which reflects on her learnings as an artist while working on her play Creaking with a group of older people. Noelle’s essay is available to read in full here.

You can read Michelle Read’s 2021 essay on the topic of creative ageing and her learnings as an artist here.

 

Please check back for details of the 2023 bursary applications.

What is the research on Artist in Residence in a Care Setting Initiative?

In 2021, we published research on our Artist in Residence in a Care Setting initiative which was authored by independent research and training consultant Dr Bernard McDonald. The initiative demonstrates and celebrates the positive impact of ageing creatively.

How does it work?

The research examines the capacity of care settings in Ireland to interact with the arts and it also considers how to embed the arts in the culture of care settings more generally.

How can I get involved?

Read the full report here.

Contact

For information or support, speak to our Arts team.
 01 805 7713
 arts@ageandopportunity.ie

ORGANISATION & ART PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT : To support and inform arts organisations who work with or wish to work with older people and to raise the standard of arts practice more generally in the area of the arts and older people.

Arts Initiatives:

Bealtaine Festival

A month long festival in May featuring performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings by artists, and community groups, working in different art forms all over Ireland. Find out more here.

The Gathering

An event bringing together our local and national Bealtaine Festival partners for a day of networking, inspiration, discussion and feedback on the festival. Find out more.

Cultural Companions

Creates local networks of like-minded people interested in arts and culture who can accompany each other to cultural events. Find out more.

Focus Groups

We are working with a number of groups to ensure our work is collaborative and inclusive. Find out more here.

Artists’ Professional Development Training

Providing continuing professional development and training for artists’. Find out more.

Artists' Residencies

This opportunity creates access to the arts for older people in care settings as well as supporting artists working in care settings. Find out more here.

Supporting Networks and Best Practice

This initiative aims to support organisations and artists who work with older people and to promote best practice. Find out more.

Access

We are working to ensure our events and initiatives, and those outside the organisation, are as accessible as possible. Find out more.

Azure

Azure explores how people with dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and the people who care for them, can have a deeper involvement in cultural institutions and can participate in cultural activities. Find out more.

Creative Exchanges

Training course for participants to plan and facilitate arts activities for older people in care settings. Find out more here.

Creative supports for Care Homes

We are developing creative supports for care settings in order to ensure easier access to the arts for the residents and visitors of those settings. Find out more.

Arts and Creative Charter for Older People

Our charter aims to raise the standard of arts practice in relation to older people and to create confidence in relation to participating in the arts. Find out more.

Research

We are working to ensure our programmes and initiatives are informed and driven by best practice Find out more.

Arts Initiatives:

Access

We are working to ensure our events and initiatives, and those outside the organisation, are as accessible as possible. Find out more.

Bealtaine Festival

A month long festival in May featuring performances, exhibitions, discussions, workshops and readings by artists, and community groups, working in different art forms all over Ireland. Find out more here.

Artists' Residencies

This opportunity creates access to the arts for older people in care settings as well as supporting artists working in care settings. Find out more here.

Creative Exchanges

Training Course for participants to plan and facilitate arts activities for older people in care settings. Find out more here

Cultural Companions

Creates local networks of like-minded people interested in arts and culture who can accompany each other to cultural events. Find out more.

Azure

Azure explores how people with dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s, and the people who care for them, can have a deeper involvement in cultural institutions and can participate in cultural activities. Find out more.

The Gathering

An event bringing together our local and national Bealtaine Festival partners for a day of networking, inspiration, discussion and feedback on the festival. Find out more here. Find out more.

Focus Groups

We are working with a number of groups to ensure our work is collaborative and inclusive. Find out more here.

Artists’ Professional Development Training

Providing continuing professional development and training for artists’. Find out more.

Supporting Networks and Best Practice

This initiative aims to support organisations and artists who work with older people and to promote best practice. Find out more.

Creative supports for Care Homes

We are developing creative supports for care settings in order to ensure easier access to the arts for the residents and visitors of those settings. Find out more.

Arts and Creative Charter for Older People

Our charter aims to raise the standard of arts practice in relation to older people and to create confidence in relation to participating in the arts. Find out more.

Research

We are working to ensure our programmes and initiatives are informed and driven by best practice Find out more.

We believe that, whether you are 8 or 80 years old, we all should have access and opportunities to attend and participate in the arts and to realise our creative potential. Fresh thinking, bold experimentation and creativity are all fundamental to delivering a high quality of life for older people.

Research shows that arts programmes involving music, visual arts and drama, among other activities, have a profound influence on the quality of life of older people, with positive impacts on health, psychological well-being, confidence and autonomy as well as other benefits such as:

  • happiness
  • mental wellbeing
  • reduced stress
  • improved cognition
  • sense of identity and personhood
  • increased self-esteem and confidence
  • reduced boredom.

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Principal Funders:

Link to HSE website Link to Sport Ireland website Link to Arts Council website

Our Principal Funders:

Link to HSE websiteLink to Sport Ireland website


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