This year, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what a ‘Warm Welcome’ really means for people with complex lives – perhaps the holy grail of creative inclusion and social justice.
We all know the phrase, and can probably give an example of when we have personally experienced it, but what does it mean- and how can we make sure that people who don’t take part in cultural opportunities feel the warmth of a creative welcome?
During the last 12 months, I’ve listened to people describe it as “a safe space” with “all the good people”, “when they remember your name and how you take your brew the second time you go”, but I’ve also heard numerous examples of why people can’t or won’t take part in creative opportunities because the barriers are just too much. People who would benefit greatly from the work we do, put off before they have even picked up a leaflet or stepped foot in the door.
CADA’s focus is on under-represented/ under-served older people and we are committed to being ‘radical’, which we define as to ‘root out/ be fundamental’, and this is why we have chosen to focus on people who experience the most complex lives and barriers. We have spent time listening, reflecting, and learning from their lived experience, to better understand the fundamental barriers they experience, before exploring what a sustainable solution might be.
CADA’s research shows that ‘97% of older audiences in England are White British’ and ‘the least culturally engaged group experience […] a raft of health, access and resource barriers’ often in places that are highest on the index of deprivation. It comes as no surprise then, that some older people experience a creative ‘warm welcome’ and other don’t, but our question is: ‘what is the sustainable solution- and what needs to change locally and nationally?’.
If you have been reading our monthly E- News, then you will know that CADA has three delivery strands, co-designed with a wide range of partners, which focus on this line of enquiry:
- First, is our RUPT Associates and ‘Representing the Possible programme’, artistic activism that aims to ‘reclaim creativity and ageing’ by challenging us to think differently.
- Second, is our Living Labs and ‘Catalyst Learning programme’, which co-creates sustainable solutions with older people with complex lives, in priority places.
- Third, is our Celebrating our Ageing and ‘Moments for Change programme’, presenting opportunities for us to reflect on our work and share ‘next practice’ nationally.
Over the last year, we have worked hard to identify what our collective priorities are, and how we can be useful to the wider creative ageing community, and we are excited about the work emerging in 2025. Here are a few teasers for you:
- In January, we are recording a national podcast to explore ‘co-production, heritage, and wellbeing’ as a learning tool for embedding lived experience in research and practice.
- In February, we are delivering an online ‘Radical Creative Ageing Evaluation’ event, exploring how we might meaningfully measure the impact of creativity in a creative way.
- In March, our local Living Labs are exploring ‘Creating A Warm Welcome’ through a legislative Theatre performance in Stoke and Carnival Flag making project in Tameside.
- In April, we will share a call to action from the ‘Creative Ageing Network’, a lived-experience led group who are co-creating a new national ‘Recipe for Change’, in partnership with CADA.
My reflections on a ‘Warm Welcome’ have not just been confined to our projects, I’ve also been thinking deeply about how we can connect with partners across the field of creative ageing as a “safe space” with “all the good people”. It has been, and continues to be a challenging time for those in the arts, culture, age, care, health, community sectors and there is benefit in us working more closely together, sharing our learning, and supporting each other.
During 2024, we have had the pleasure of co-creating so many ‘Radical Creative Ageing’ projects with different partners – and we want to do more!
I will leave you with three key highlights of the year:
- In February, we co-created a Radical Creative Ageing Fanzine, with Dominic Campbell, founder of Creative Aging International. He described ‘radical’ as “Something that makes your heart beat faster.”
- In July, we co-produced our ‘For Passion and Practice Immersive Gathering’ with our RUPT Associates, The Whitworth, and Artivist group.
- In November, we began co-designing learning resources with Historic England, Age UK Oxon, and Supersum – The Wicked Problems Agency… which are coming very soon!
We’ve been privileged to partner on so many incredible events, projects, and commissions this year—too many to name individually! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, and we look forward to connecting and collaborating even more in 2025.
Creative Ageing: Development & Agency 