The artistic and creative potential and talents of nursing home residents are being celebrated in communities across Ireland today, Friday, 19th May 2023. National Arts in Nursing Homes Day will see performances, exhibitions and celebratory events hosted in nursing homes as part of our annual Bealtaine Festival, celebrating the arts and creativity as we age.
National Arts in Nursing Homes Day is once again a partnership between Age and Opportunity and Nursing Homes Ireland.
Events lined up include art and craft exhibitions of resident painting, pottery and knitting creations, and performances. There will be a series of concerts in nursing homes across Co Louth and a resident choir recital in Co Cavan.
In Co Kilkenny, residents of Mooncoin Residential Care Centre will present the fruits of their participation in an arts project If These Hands Could Sing. For successive weeks they have explored the theme of reminiscence through the five senses, with the support of artist musician Liam Merriman. If These Hands Could Sing was the winner of the 2022 National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Award.
“One of the key aims of our work is to ensure that older people have access to the arts no matter where they live in Ireland”, says Tara Byrne, Age & Opportunity Arts Programme Manager. “Our partnership with Nursing Homes Ireland for this special day is a cornerstone of our drive to support meaningful arts making and engagement in our later lives.”
Tadhg Daly, Nursing Homes Ireland CEO says: “Participation in the arts occurs at all ages and fulfils a particularly important role in supporting people in nursing homes. The arts allow nursing home residents to express themselves, to enable their creative talents to flourish, to bond, and enjoy very happy and memorable moments.”
“National Arts in Nursing Homes Day is an occasion to applaud the creative talents of nursing home residents and the role the arts fulfils in supporting them. We are extremely proud to partner with Age and Opportunity for this very special initiative.”
