CADA believes that we all have a right to create and take an active part in creativity and cultural life at any age.
We exist to
- Challenge ageism in the arts and heritage sectors and in society more widely
- Celebrate and champion the cultural contribution of older people
- Lead a fundamental rethink and reflection on ageing and creativity
- Harness collective energy and impact to support systemic change
How we work
We exist to create the conditions for innovative and impactful work to flourish and to ensure that older people’s views and voices are heard.
We connect individuals and organisations in communities across England and beyond, who are developing and delivering arts and heritage programmes with, by and for older people.
We believe that society is richer when all older people are visible and valued; when communities come together to share arts, culture and heritage through the lens of age, experience and difference; and when we see more pathways to emerge or re-emerge as a creative talent in later life.
Our Priorities
- Developing understanding and insight: identifying opportunities and potential pathways to change.
- Advocacy: advocating for the power of creative ageing to policy makers, NGOs and potential funders.
- Convening: coordinating opportunities to think, learn and reflect
- Campaigning: forming partnerships with the people and organisations that can make change happen.
Our Charity
Elizabeth Lynch MBE – Co-Chair
Elizabeth specialises in working with artists, communities and cultural organisations as an advisor and researcher. Her experience lies in collaborating with and commissioning artists in community contexts and in producing interdisciplinary projects across art, science, health and education. She established the groundbreaking youth-led Roundhouse Studios as Director 2000-8 and now works for arts, museums and heritage organisations including Government Art Collection, National Gallery, Wellcome Collection, Action Space, Museum of the Home and the National Trust. Recently Elizabeth co-wrote Wandsworth’s winning bid to be London Borough of Culture 2025. She has worked as a theatre director in India and Pakistan and on Kinetika’s UK/India Silk River programme 2017 in West Bengal. She is Chair of Theatre-Rites and What Next? Wandsworth and Associate Research Fellow, School of Arts, Birkbeck University.
Relevant Bibliography: Age Against the Machine. Art and Dementia in the UK South Asian Diaspora. Visionaries: South Asian arts and ageing counter narrative.
Arti Prashar – Co-Chair
Arti stepped down as Spare Tyre’s Artistic Director/CEO in August 2019 after inspirational and acclaimed leadership for 19 years. She developed inclusive creative practice championing diverse voices. She is at the forefront of immersive sensory theatre practice for people living with dementia and learning disabled people.
Phil Cave
Phil is a consultant and researcher specialising in the arts.
Sarah Roper
Head of Finance: Cultural Institutions University of Manchester
David Slater
David Slater was Founder Director of UK participatory arts company Entelechy Arts, based in Deptford, southeast London.
He remains an Associate of the company. David has extensive experience of working with participatory arts practice in both urban and rural communities with a particular interest in programmes that support older, old people to connect and contribute to the cultural life of their communities.
Recent street-based performance work, including Theatre of Wandering for Coventry 2021, has focused on uncovering the often invisible and unheard stories of older age.
Our Supporters and Partners
CADA – The Creative Ageing: Development and Agency became an independent charity in 2023.
CADA was initiated and hosted by Manchester Museum, in collaboration with the Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Art Gallery. We were supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and The University of Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing. We were seed funded by the Baring Foundation which made a ten year investment into creative ageing from 2010-2019 and supported by Arts Council England.
CADA is a Strategic Alliance Member of the Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance (CHWA, an Affiliate Partner of the Centre for Cultural Value and a member of the British Society of Gerontology Creative Ageing Special Interest Group
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Creative Ageing Development Ltd working as CADA the Creative Ageing Development Agency a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No 13863570. Registered office 200 Drake St, Rochdale OL16 1PJ. Charity number 1200477
Contact Us
hello@cadaengland.org
Creative Ageing: Development & Agency 