Art fills pensioners with hot air

Pensioners in Midlothian have been prescribed singing classes by their local GPs. The GPs have encouraged older people with health problems to take part in the ‘Singing for Health’ programme run by the group Serendipity.

The programme was set up by Helen Furness, a professional choral trainer to teach the health benefits of signing to older people. Serendipity will be one of the many organisations who will speak about their experiences at the Scottish Arts Council’s Age of Creativity Conference.

The one-day conference which is taking place at the Byre Theatre, St Andrews on 18 March 2004 will celebrate the creativity, talents and positive attitudes of older people, as well as showcase the benefits that participating in the arts can bring to older people and the community. The event aims to challenge and change stereotypical attitudes towards older people and explore how the arts and lifelong learning can play a part in this. The programme will include presentations, personal testimonies, performances, discussions and practical workshops.

One of the highlights of the conference will be an address from Susan Perlstein, Executive Director of the National Centre for Creative Aging in New York. She will give examples of best practice from the USA as well as practical experience of designing programmes for older people from all walks of life. Susan who was founding director of the National Centre for Creative Aging has trained thousands of professionals in arts programmes for older people and has written several books on aging, arts and creativity.

Writer, Maime Lang will tell how at the age of 57 she came to be one of Scotland’s top scriptwriters despite thinking that all of her challenges were behind her. Margaret Urquhart, Manager of Castlemilk Pensioner’s Action Centre will discuss the issues affecting elderly people and their families in the Castlemilk community as well as some of the arts activities that the centre provides. The Scottish Arts Council will also outline recent research that has been undertaken into the arts and older people.

As well as speeches and workshops there will be performances by the Serendipity Choir and Gener8 the Scottish Ballet’s dance company for over 60 year olds. Sheena Wellington, Scotland’s leading traditional singer will perform as well as Byre Rhythm, the Byre Theatre’s own Latin American Samba and Japanese Taiko drumming group.

Sylvia Dow, Head of Education for the Scottish Arts Council commented, ‘All ages are creative, of course, but this conference aims to prove that neither creativity nor indeed brain cells wither after the age of 50!’

Notes to editors

• The Scottish Arts Council champions and sustains the arts for Scotland, investing £60 million from Scottish Executive and National Lottery funding to support and develop artistic excellence and creativity throughout Scotland. Further information is available on our website: www.scottisharts.org.uk.
• The fee for attending the conference is £25 for individuals and voluntary organisations and £75 for commercial organisations. Further information and bookings can be made by contacting Event Mechanics on tel: 0131 337 2609 or email: Karen@eventmechanics.co.uk.
• There will be approximately 200 delegates in attendance which will include older people and members of arts projects, artists, arts organisations, service providers. Local authorities, agencies working with older people, funders, senior citizens’ groups, local councillors and MSPs have also bee invited
• The Byre Theatre is situated at: Abbey Street, St. Andrews, Fife. The conference will take place between 9.30am and 4.30pm.
• Electronic photos of the Serendipity Choir are available on request.

Contact email(s)

media.office@scottisharts.org.uk

Issued by: Scottish Arts Council