2017 – 2019
ArtFelt was an exciting arts project that brought together young children from an Edinburgh nursery and older people from a local care home to explore and celebrate their creativity.
ArtFelt was an exciting arts project that brought together young children from an Edinburgh nursery and older people from a local care home to explore and celebrate their creativity.
This unique collaboration between Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation and Starcatchers recognised the positive impact that strong intergenerational partnerships can have on communities and the role the arts can play in helping to strengthen these relationships.
The children, from Forbes Nursery Greenhill, Edinburgh, and residents of Morlich House, Edinburgh, collaborated with artists over three months (October – December 2018), taking part in a range of creative activities first separately and then together, culminating in an event sharing what they had been working on with families and friends.
A key aim of ArtFelt was to evaluate the impact that artist-led activities can have on intergenerational partnerships.
It also aimed to increase the confidence, knowledge and skills of both artists and the professionals working in the nursery and care home.
Rhona Matheson, Chief Executive of Starcatchers, said: “Intergenerational relationships are so important. We’ve seen first-hand through our other community engagement projects how much joy and inspiration can come from an adult and child taking part in artistic and creative activities together. The experience can help build new relationships and strengthen existing ones as well as help build individuals’ confidence and self-esteem – whatever their age.”
ArtFelt artist Deirdre Nelson worked with residents in Morlich House, visiting once a week during October 2018. Early Years artist Kirstin Cunningham did the same at Forbes Nursery Greenhill. The children joined Morlich House residents, with both artists, during six sessions in November and December before inviting family and friends to celebrate what they had been working on.
ArtFelt was be independently evaluated by Ruth Stevenson of Ruthless Research with a final evaluation available for shared learning in 2019. View the evaluation below.
We’re delighted to be working with Starcatchers on ArtFelt. Scotland’s population is ageing, and Luminate’s work consistently shows that creativity has no age. In ArtFeltwe are looking forward to collaborating with some of our youngest and oldest citizens – connecting people through creativity, and building relationships across the generations.
Associate Artist – Creative Approaches to ASN, Expecting Something and Play & Explore
Kirstin Georgia Abraham is a visual artist and play practitioner born in Gibraltar and currently based in Fife, Scotland.
Since graduating from Glasgow School of Art in 1992, Deirdre Nelson has pursued a career creating work for exhibitions and commission, and working as an artist facilitator to various groups. Her nomadic nature and interest in communities have allowed her to develop work for exhibitions and to take part in residencies both in UK and Australia
ArtFelt, a pilot project exploring the impact of putting artists at the centre of an early years / later years collaboration.
Creative Kin was a three-year project (2020 – 2023) bringing together artists and kinship families in North Ayrshire. We delivered free, weekly creative play sessions designed to help kids and their carers play, get creative and spend some relaxed time together.
Do you live in, or around, Wester Hailes? Starcatchers Expecting Something offers free creative play sessions for wee ones aged birth to two years old, and their families, led by artists Kerry Cleland and Katy Wilson.
A community engagement programme for Kinship families in North and South Ayrshire.
