To what extent do communities intersect with opportunities for creativity? How should we aim to remake or rethink “communities” in the light of the need to age actively and creatively? MANCHESTER CULTURAL OFFER FOR OLDER PEOPLE Liz Postlethwaite

The Mancunian Context  Work that has been developed over a period of 8 years  Desire to consider creativity within a wider context of a city wide ageing strategy  Creativity and culture as a key factor in health and wellbeing throughout life – including older age

Mancunian Context #2  Idea of active participation versus passive engagement  Important of being creatively active throughout our lives  How can creative interaction invigorate urban communities and people’s lives?  How can communities be connected with creativity? Interaction with artists, art and creative organisations.

Stage One  Part of Manchester City Council Valuing Older People Programme  Positive Images of Ageing campaign – introduction of creative / cultural ideas  Concept of creative process, image and older people  National / international acclaim  Cultural programme for Full of Life Festival allowing organisations to test the water

Stage Two  Research and mapping  Picture of what was happening in the city  What were different organisations doing?  Who was engaging? What barriers to engagement exist?  Development of older people’s cultural manifesto  Sign up from all cultural organisations in the city

Stage Three  Support from Baring Foundation  Valuing Older People Cultural Offer Group  Quarterly meeting includes all cultural organisations in the city  Very pro-active group  3 year programme of work

How does the Stage 3 programme look?  Cultural champions programme  Outreach work in local communities  Venue based work  Advocacy / strategy  Partnership / strategy  Older people as artists – making work  Policy changemakers  Older people as decision makers throughout

600k of Additional Investment  Halle – Adopt a Player Programme  Camerata – Music in Mind (Alzheimer’s Society)  Royal Exchange – Turth About Youth (The Co-operative Group)  Library Theatre – Storybox (MICRA)  Museums – Older Volunteering Programme  Academic Research – Salford University  Older people / ageing within the organisational DNA

Future  Sustainability beyond the Baring Investment  Continuation of Cultural Champions  Older people as curators / commissioners  Creativity and culture as crucial to communities  Needs to become part of the culture / DNA of organisations working with older people – hospitals, day centres

Thank you!  Liz Postlethwaite  