Azure
Dementia Friendly Tours of Cultural Institutions
Everyone is entitled to be an active cultural participant at all stages of life. Our aim is to make art galleries and museums around Ireland dementia-friendly spaces.
What is Azure ?
Tours for people living with dementia – designed to improve access and enhance their experience of cultural initiatives in Ireland’s galleries and museums.
How does it work?
We explore 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.
We partner with galleries and museums to facilitate and optimise access and experience for people living with dementia. Azure tours give people living with dementia and those close to them, the opportunity to visit the museum together. While there, they can join others and share an experience, facilitated by the understanding and support of museum and gallery staff.
Originally initiated through collaboration between Age & Opportunity, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Butler Gallery, Kilkenny, and IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) the Azure network has now expanded to numerous arts venues nationwide.
How can I get involved?
For more information or for upcoming Azure tours, please contact the relevant cultural institution in your area:
- Arts & Disability Forum, Northern Ireland
- Butler Gallery, Kilkenny
- Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
- Crawford Art Gallery, Cork
- DLR Lexicon, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Arts Office
- Galway Art Centre, Galway
- The Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda
- The Hunt Museum, Limerick
- Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), Dublin
- The LAB, Dublin City Arts Office
- The Luan Gallery, Athlone
- The National Gallery of Art, Dublin
- West Cork Art Centre, Co. Cork
Contact
For information speak to Fiona Holohan in our Engage team.
What do people say about Azure?
Azure is about trying to create moments where, at least during the programme, people stop being ‘the person with dementia and their carer’ and, in some ways, go back to being husband and wife, mother and son, father and daughter, sister and brother. Programmes like this allow for that moment, and that is a real privilege to see.
Engage Initiatives:
AgeWise Workshops
Professionally facilitated workshops for employers and staff who are providing services to older people. These workshops are designed to create awareness of attitudes to ageing and older people. Find out more here.
Get Engaged
An eight week (over eight half days) training course – for people aged 50+ , designed to help make a difference within local organisations including skills on lobbying, research and working with the media. Find out more here.
Ageing with Confidence
Six week course (over six half days) – for older people in local communities – designed to increase confidence, encourage reflection and share experiences. 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.
Changing Gears
A five week course for people in mid-career or anticipating retirement. Changing Gears is about building resilience, taking stock, making changes, bouncing back and moving on in life. Find out more here.
Bespoke Training
Bespoke training, advice and mentoring in the areas of arts, physical activity, active citizenship and lifelong learning. We can tailor a programme to your/your organisation’s needs. Find out more here.
Spirituality
Our five week, online Spirituality course invites participants to explore spirituality from the perspective of their life experience using art, music, poetry and story. Find out more here.
People with intellectual disability Physical Activity Leaders
Enabling people with intellectual disability (ID) to become physical activity leaders. Find out more here.
Engage Initiatives:
AgeWise Workshops
An education and peer leadership initiative which trains older people how to lead sport and activity sessions in their local groups and communities. Find out more here.
Get Engaged
An eight week (over eight half days) training course – for people aged 50+ , designed to help make a difference within local organisations including skills on lobbying, research and working with the media. Find out more here.
Aging With Confidence
Six week course (over six half days) – for older people in local communities – designed to increase confidence, encourage reflection and share experiences. 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.
Changing Gears
A five week course for people in mid-career or anticipating retirement. Changing Gears is about building resilience, taking stock, making changes, bouncing back and moving on in life. Find out more here.
Bespoke Training
Bespoke training, advice and mentoring in the areas of arts, physical activity, active citizenship and lifelong learning. We can tailor a programme to your/your organisation’s needs. Find out more here.
Spirituality
Our five week, online Spirituality course invites participants to explore spirituality from the perspective of their life experience using art, music, poetry and story. Find out more here.
People with intellectual disability Physical Activity Leaders
Enabling people with intellectual disability (ID) to become physical activity leaders. Find out more here.
Learning, education and engaging with your local community offers a number of benefits including
- happiness and empowerment
- mental wellbeing
- increased self-awareness and expression
- development of new skills and interests
- providing a sense of self control
- social connection
- reduced depression and anxiety
- reduced stress levels
- improved cognition
- sense of identity and personhood
- increased self-esteem and confidence
