Thirteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

Participatory arts activities are amongst the services being provided in both urban and rural community contexts for people living with dementia and their carers. There is much variability in the programmes and services offered nationwide and therefore a need to gain clearer understanding of the benefits, limitations, and general practicalities of the different individual participatory arts activities being provided. Underpinned by non-representational theory and therapeutic landscapes literature, this participatory action research project explores and evaluates the effectiveness of a unique participatory arts programme entitled ‘Setting the Scene’, which is currently being implemented at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, England. The project involves adults with dementia, professional and family carers, and the main stakeholders or practitioners of dementia care in the local community. Using ethnographic methods and visual recordings, the project investigates how the activities used by Theatre by the Lake’s participatory arts programme can influence the health, well-being and quality of life of people living with dementia, in addition to their carers. The project also considers how best to sustain the engagement and participation of people with dementia in creative arts settings. The research team considers participants as co-researchers and uses their input to aid in the gradual development and refinement of the ‘Setting the Scene’ programme, working towards a transferable logic model intended to guide the implementation of the programme in external organisations.