Shaping perceptions of dementias
A year as residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Power of diverse dementia voices
Am I the right way up (above): One of the questions that first inspired Created Out of Mind. Image: Charlie Murphy You are my voice (top right): Piece by Janet Horton representing the role she plays for her husband, who lives with dementia and finds self-expression difficult. Image: Dominic Graham/Wellcome Cover photos: (Clockwise L-R): Rukiya Mukadam, Ronan Smith, Tom Hughes and Mike Parish and Veronica Williams-Laing. Images: Ben Gilbert/Wellcome.
“Being able to communicate the message that dementia can be a new beginning, not an end is so important. I hope that further opportunities will come because dementia is growing so the message that it does not mean defeat must grow even faster.� Wayne Eaton, Speaker at Created Out of Mind event
“Poetry was quite cathartic. Some of the poems are about my dementia, about how I felt. Then suddenly I thought I don’t want to write about my dementia anymore, it was boring so I started talking about life.” Tracey Shorthouse, Poet
“She is where she is. I can’t make her be anywhere else – I need to be with her where she is and I need to be whatever it is in the moment that she feels. I do actually believe that both of us grew through that experience and able to maintain a connection right up to the very end.” Caroline Kitcatt, speaking on her relationship with mother Audrey
“I still feel entirely comfortable and capable of assessing an artistic idea, given everything I know about the intended show… I feel very comfortable to exercise judgement.” Ronan Smith, Director and Actor
4
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Created Out of Mind is a team aiming to explore, challenge and shape perceptions and understanding of dementias through science and the creative arts.
“Music is not medicine, nor drama a drug – why should they be treated as such for those living with a dementia? Our research programme focuses on the power of the arts to communicate both the experience and biology of the dementias, and the value of in-the-moment experiences, not just long-term ‘improvement’. Our experimental approach incorporates the different motivations and languages of practitioners, researchers, policymakers, carers and people experiencing dementias. Achieving this has been made possible by talking, playing and working together as an interdisciplinary team – precisely the opportunity afforded to us by Wellcome’s Hub Award.
Painting projects at The Hub, Wellcome Collection, led by artist Charlie Harrison.
People living with dementias shared their perspective through ceramics workshops led by artist Charlie Murphy.
Created Out of Mind is neither the beginning nor the end. It emerges from and owes a debt to the established fields of dementia and the arts, and creative aging. It has been and will continue to be shaped by our thousands of conversations with people living with different forms of dementia, and their many experiences, questions and uncertainties. It hopes to spark new lines of evaluation, enquiry and education that will be useful in the years to come. If it succeeds in bringing closer those who speak of experiences and experiments, then I for one shall be encouraged.” Sebastian Crutch, Director of Created Out of Mind and Neuropsychologist, UCL Dementia Research Centre
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
5
Language and Representation How do we perceive dementia? How does language, science and culture affect representations of dementias, and the people who live with this condition? We are exploring current representations of dementias including those in the media, historical accounts, the science community and everyday language, with the hope of telling a new story enriched by personal, lived experiences. Researchers are working with people living with dementias, carers and family members, to respond to these accounts through scientific analysis and creative
experimentation, opening up new perspectives.
Metaphors for the Mind What does dementia feel like? We are examining visual, textual & linguistic metaphors used to describe experiences of dementia in personal, public and scientific contexts. Different expressions are unfolding through
Windblown Trees. 2017, cork print. Charlie Murphy/Created Out of Mind
a range of historic enquiries, creative workshops, visual experiments and dialogues with people living with different kinds of dementias, their families and the wider public. Led by resident Artist Charlie Murphy and Hannah Zeilig, Social Gerontologist, University of the Arts.
“This is part of my ongoing conversation with Jane Twigg through which we’re exploring metaphors – for cycles of life and the huge impact that different conditions and diagnoses can have on your wellbeing. I made this image in response to Jane’s changing circumstances, which made me acutely aware of how significant events blow through with both positive and negative consequences.” Charlie Murphy, Artist and Co-Director, Created Out of Mind
6
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
“Looking back at how dementia was perceived in history and how the concept was influenced by social and political factors has opened my eyes to the changeable nature of our concept of dementia.” Millie van der Byl Williams, Research Assistant, UCL
A story of dementias Although asylums have largely been consigned to history, institutional care is often an inevitable consequence for people currently living with advancing dementia, as societies struggle to understand how to best provide care. Researchers are working with Wellcome Library to tell a story of dementias; re-visiting Ticehurst asylum and exploring the lives of residents living with dementia in the 19th century through the eyes of those who cared for them.
Taken from Lady Maria Beauclerk’s case notes, a patient at Ticehurst Asylum who was diagnosed with dementia.
They plan to work with people living with dementias, artists and the public to bring these accounts to life and to examine the extent to which perceptions have truly changed over time. An interesting line of inquiry has also emerged on how medical notes might be influenced by those who speak for people living with a neurological condition. Led by Gill Windle, Social Scientist and Co-Director, Created Out of Mind.
“How much do these descriptions accurately depict the patients and how far are they reflective of the person making these notes? Reading the case notes is almost like archaeology, the sense that we are gently blowing the dust away from the surface to see what might lie beneath.” Researchers going through Ticehurst Asylum archives at Wellcome Library.
Hannah Zeilig, Social Gerontologist, University of the Arts
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Quality of Life: DIY
Dementias in the media
We are exploring how effective standardised Quality of Life (QoL) measures are in capturing the experiences of people with rare and young onset dementias, by providing them with an opportunity to respond to, and recreate, established scales. This will help us consider ways in which we might tailor other questionnaire measures to focus more on the quality of experience.
UCL Computer Scientist Nicholas Firth is using Natural Language Processing (NLP), to analyse the language used to discuss dementias in media platforms such as The Guardian and Daily Mail, and comparing this with the terms used by people living with dementia. He hopes to develop this by applying more modern Artificial Intelligence (AI) to textual data collected by social scientists – helping to quantify the rich body of information collected so far about the experience of dementias.
“When selecting a single rating for rich areas of Talking life experience like ‘family’ or is a common assumption that ‘mood’ people have raised There people experiencing dementia become questions such as: ‘Which rapidly unable to engage in meaningful conversation. Talking Life is a series box should I tick if it’s of podcast conversations with people always changing?’ and experiencing a dementia about their relationships with topics such as ‘Where should I mark if purpose, obsession and connection. my answer falls somewhere in between?’. For me these questions demonstrate the challenge we all have in making sense of the world with the labels we are given and how we relate to others who may have different understandings.” Emma Harding, PhD researcher, UCL Dementia Research Centre
7
“The podcasts are a record of self-expression, to spark a shift in perceptions about dementia. It has been a joy to see that, throughout the process of making these podcasts with Wellcome, everyone has learnt something about dementia from people speaking about their experience. They have heard the individuals, not the disease.” Susanna Howard, Writer, Actor and Founder of Living Words
Listen to the ‘Talking Life’ podcasts on our website at createdoutofmind.org/talking-life.
Susanna talks with Rukiya Mukadam about Purpose at Wellcome Collection’s Audio Studio for the ‘Talking Life’ podcasts.
8
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
“For me this process is an illustration of an astonishing wider perspective. Technologies like this clearly need responsible regulation, but the point of principle is that the human body is not exactly the hermetically sealed organism we have become accustomed to imagine. It may be that the sight of my “second brain” growing in a dish will bring that home to me in ways I haven’t anticipated.” Philip Ball, Science Writer. Taken from Phil’s blog piece for Created Out of Mind at: www.createdoutofmind.org/stories-and-reflections
Image: Artist Charlie Murphy creates a glass neuron in response to her growing brain in a dish.
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Brains in a dish Can our brains exist outside our heads? Using groundbreaking techniques, researchers are transforming skin cells into brain cells (neurons) to grow ‘brains in a dish’. A writer, a broadcaster, an artist and a neurologist from Created Out of Mind are taking part and reflecting on their growing brains through scientific, personal and creative responses, and their experiences will be compared with those of people living with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and Familial Alzheimer’s (FAD). Artist Charlie Murphy, who is leading this project, and Science Writer Philip Ball’s skin cells have already been transformed into stem cells in the first step to growing their ‘mini brains’. We’re hoping to stimulate curiosity about the healthy and ageing brain and explore whether this kind of research can increase our understanding of dementias.
The Art of Conversation We are exploring how care home staff talk about, and to, people with a dementia, in particular people with advanced dementia, and how changes in communication may be influenced by an arts-based training programme we call ‘Creative Conversations’. This approach to staff development is unique; there is no focus on facts, instruction or testing, nor on negative aspects such as ‘challenging behaviour’. The arts are being used in a number of ways to focus on positive aspects, in partnership with Flintshire social services, who have been instrumental in recruiting the 12 care homes to this project. Early indicators suggest the informal learning experience of Creative Conversations is having an extremely positive effect on the care-staff. We hope that the programme proves to be an effective way of improving the quality of the client-carer relationship. Led by Gill Windle, Social Scientist and Co-Director, Created Out of Mind and Kat Algar, Social Scientist, Bangor University.
9
10
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Movement and Gesture Navigating unfamiliar environments and public spaces can often be challenging for people living with different dementias, particularly those living with vision impairment. We are harnessing technologies to guide the development of dementia-inclusive spaces at Wellcome Collection and other public environments. In parallel we are exploring what movement and gesture can tell us about the experience of living with a dementia and how identity might be expressed through movements such as painting and dance, even when other functions may be compromised.
Dementia-eye view Researchers are examining how people with dementiarelated visual impairment, caused by Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), and their carers, navigate real-world environments, such as galleries, museums and other public spaces. Two couples have participated in pilot visits to a gallery at Wellcome Collection where we have monitored their talk-aloud observations, complimented with sensor-based measures of arousal, movement and location using wearable sensors. These visits have prompted a review of how future visits should be altered, particularly regarding how participants should be introduced to spaces within Wellcome gallery. We will compare their experiences with those of people with typical Alzheimer’s disease (tAD) and their carers. Led by Keir Yong, Postdoctoral Research Associate, UCL Dementia Research Centre. Expression through Single Yellow Lines, led by Charlie Harrison
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
11
Single Yellow Lines What effect do dementias have on the way people express themselves through gestures? Single Yellow Lines involves participants painting two separate lines – one straight and one expressive – on two separate canvasses. The gestures created by participants record a clearly definable moment. Artist Charlie Harrison has been inviting people to paint straight and expressive lines at Brian Day’s GAIT and Balance Lab as part of research into the spatial experience of Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA). Between the beginning and end point of the gesture, information can be gathered and analysed (heart-rate, eye-tracking, temporal experience etc.), each individual mark being a unique artistic reflection of the experience of that person at that moment in time. Erica and Roger taking part in Beatrice Allegranti Dance Theatre – Participatory Dementia Dances. More at www.beatriceallegranti.com. Photo: Julia Testa.
“When we move together it reminds us that we are vulnerable together. Any one of us could experience ‘dementia’, that all-encompassing word that belies the hidden experiences of each person. Moving the experience helps us all to move beyond the diagnosis – it allows us to recognise each other and to feel part of the experience.” Dr Beatrice Allegranti, UKCP Reg. Dance Movement Psychotherapist and Choreographer
Charlie Harrison also led a public engagement event called ‘The Art of Gesture’ with dance movement psychotherapist Beatrice Allegranti at Wellcome Collection, exploring how painted gestures and dance movements might support expression when other functions may be compromised.
12
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Creative Arts Created Out of Mind are exploring how creative activities such as viewing art, handling objects or playing music can enrich in the present. Much of the evidence into the arts for people with dementias looks at longerterm benefits or ‘improvement’ but this is not always helpful – the emotion music can evoke in the present moment can be equally valuable. Through observation, discussion and wearable technologies, we are looking into new ways of measuring the impact of arts-based activities for people living with dementias that complement and strengthen the current body of evidence.1 Through the artistic experiences of people living with dementias we also seek to develop a deeper understanding of our relationship with the arts – its impact on the brain, our social interactions, communication and relationships.
Things in our lives Cultural spaces such as museums and art galleries often have a variety of objects which they invite their visitors to explore. Things in our lives investigates the effect of viewing visual art and handling museum, and other, objects have on people living with dementias (e.g. related to wellbeing, language and memory), as well as what insights this can provide about people’s relationship with objects and cultural spaces. Recruitment is now open for groups beginning in late February. For information please contact Prof Paul Camic at paul.camic@canterbury.ac.uk.
Created Out of Mind contributed to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing (APPGAHW) Creative Health Report, which looks into current practice and research in the arts in health and social care, with a view to making recommendations to improve policy and practice.
The Studio Senses group from Central St Martins created ‘A Ceramic Diary’ – a series of vessels, that uses the characteristics of clay to communicate stories of dementias. Inspired by the Living Words anthology ‘The Things Between Us’.
1 George E. C. Thomas, Sebastian J. Crutch & Paul M. Camic ‘Measuring physiological responses to the arts in people with a dementia: A systemized literature review’ International Journal of Psychophysiology (2017); DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2017.11.008
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
An increasing body of neuroimaging studies suggest that engaging with visual art activates many of the same brain networks that are involved in complex social behaviour. Therefore, the way we relate to art may reflect our social identity, on both an interpersonal and a neurological level. There is also evidence that having a dementia may have a strong impact on these social brain networks. Neuropsychologist and artist, Janneke van Leeuwen aims to bring these two strands of research together; investigating how visual art and colour experiences are processed by social brain networks and whether different forms of dementia might have an effect on this. This research is in collaboration with the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam.
Thinking Eyes We are collecting data on how participants with and without dementias respond to visual art by applying computational analysis to their spoken responses and an eye tracker to determine where people look and in what order.
By doing so, we aim to better understand the relationship between perception, identity and communication in people with different dementias and more broadly, and support people with dementias in expressing their personal insights.
Colour rooms Presently little information is available concerning the colour preferences of people living with different dementias, particularly in real world environments. Through a set of miniature Colour Rooms – monochromatic room models, photographed with a wide-angle lens so that they look life-size – we are measuring how people living with dementias experience colour in different spatial contexts by looking at physiological responses (pupil dilation, heart rate and skin conductance). We will also explore the link between visual pattern recognition and real world experiences. Both projects led by Janneke Van Leeuwen, Neuropsychologist and Artist, UCL Dementia Research Centre.
Janneke Van Leeuwen leads a Virtual Reality experience of her Colour Rooms project with the public.
13
14
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
“Music for life is about co-creating, forming bonds & spaces just to be.” Hermione Jones, Programme Manager, Music for Life
Music for Life 360 Music for Life 360 builds on Wigmore Hall’s Music for Life programme, which brings together professional musicians, care staff and people living with dementias through interactive music sessions.
“I have been moved by the desire of people whose dementias have been very advanced to connect and make a creative contribution, just like the rest of us.” Julian West, Musician and Co-Director, Created Out of Mind
We are applying technologies such as a 360 degree camera to these sessions, in order to capture even the most minute physical changes (e.g. foot tapping or eye flickering) that might be missed by a human observer. This will enable us to complement current evidence on the value of these interactions for all involved, and improve future musical activities for people living with dementias.
Mind, Body and Song Mind, Body and Song explores the effect of choral singing on people living with dementias and their caregivers with a singing group at Wigmore Hall. We have been measuring both physiological responses (e.g. stress hormone levels and heart rate) and psychological responses (subjective anxiety and subjective wellbeing) before and after a choral singing session, using saliva samples, wellbeing scales and wearable sensors.
“Members of the choir have been really engaged in the research and their contributions have been invaluable.” Paul Camic, Co-Director, Created Out of Mind
Music for Life session, led by Wigmore Hall. Credit: Benjamin Harte.
We are capturing valuable evidence of the impact of choral singing in the moment that it is happening. Our preliminary results were presented at the Royal Society for Public Health, Arts and Dementia conference, and final results will be shared soon. Led by Paul Camic, Clinical Health Psychologist and Co-Director, Created Out of Mind.
Play it again Play it again explores how music we are familiar with can provoke a measurable physiological response. We are measuring how pupil size and skin conductivity (both measures of arousal) change as a result of listening to familiar and unfamiliar music for people living with and without dementias. In particular we are measuring responses to music in people who have difficulty communicating their familiarity to music, to test the effectiveness of music in creating a positive response. Led by Nicholas Firth, Computer Scientist, UCL.
Created Out of Mind Director, Sebastian Crutch has been appointed to a new Commission on Dementia and Music that brings together leading universities, charities, care providers, music practitioners and policy makers to explore the current and potential role of music-based interventions for people living with dementias.
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
15
Co-Creativity and Collaboration Created Out of Mind and Wellcome researchers and staff have benefitted from the opportunity to collaborate with people experiencing dementias through the Rare Dementia Support group meetings, hosted at Wellcome Hub. These support groups aim to provide people who have (or who are at risk of having) a rare dementia with information, support and an opportunity to come together with others affected by similar conditions.
“The Hub has allowed the inclusion of much more intimate and sensitive group conversations, creative activities and an overall sense that the rare dementias have been acknowledged as being worthy of a bigger platform.” Janette Junghaus, Research Assistant, Rare Dementia Support
It is often during these sessions where we gain the most useful insights into the experiences and challenges of dementia, and where our research projects are inspired and founded.
A Rare Dementia Support group gather at The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Exploring co-creativity The term ‘co-creativity’ is increasingly used to describe a particular approach to participatory arts practice that emphasises equality and mutual value among all involved. However, there is little exploration of what this means for people living with dementias and the artists and practitioners who work with them. We are investigating the challenges and possibilities of working co-creatively with people with a dementia, and how co-creativity might help us rethink agency in people living with dementias. We hope to use our findings to share best practice for co-creative work. Julian West and Hannah Zeilig, who are leading this work, have engaged in conversations which have resulted in a podcast, and have circulated a survey to find out how people experiencing dementias and artists engage with the idea of co-creativity. If you would like to contribute, the survey is available at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WQLX9VK. They have also developed With All – a co-creative arts project with people living with dementias – prioritising equality in the creative process through artistic play, experiment and exploration conditions.
“Created Out of Mind emphasises the importance of a reciprocal process taking place; that is people living with a dementia can help guide the development of an artist or scientist’s own practice. This mutual contribution, we believe, is central to progressing the dementia and arts space in a meaningful way.” Emilie Brotherhood, Project Manager Created Out of Mind
16
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Shaping perceptions: Highlights
Why Music? The Key to Memory Created Out of Mind joined the BBC Radio 3 Residency Why Music? The Key to Memory at Wellcome Collection in October 2017. We discussed some initial discoveries from experiments measuring the impact of music for people living with dementias, and several new musical pieces inspired by the words of people living with dementias were performed for the first time.
We have been working collaboratively with the public, producers, broadcasters, writers and a range of established and up-and-coming artists, from designers and sculptures to young composers and singers, to communicate the experiences of dementias in new and engaging ways.
“Working with Created Out of Mind, I hope to raise awareness of the dementias and challenge taboos surrounding the condition. This year, I have met and reported on families who carry rare genes for early onset Alzheimer’s Disease – their commitment to research and their refusal to be cowed by a condition which so many people fear is an inspiration. It is vital that dementia is not a label which people have to the exclusion of all else.” Fergus Walsh, BBC Medical Correspondent
The Fellowship Octet from National Youth Choirs of Great Britain rehearses pieces inspired by the words of people living with dementias. Composed by BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers and Kerry Andrew. Image: David Sandison/ Wellcome Collection
Kerry Andrews mentors the Proms Inspire Young Composers James Chan, Shoshannah Sievers and Morgan Overton.
“I have found it really inspiring how there are links between the nature of language-change in dementia and the sort of work I do as a composer of vocal music. My piece celebrates the positivity of human creativity in finding alternative ways to communicate.”
“My composition ‘I’m making a statement’ reflects what I found most inspiring after listening to and hearing about people who live with dementias: the conditions, though often life-changing and sometimes debilitating, can bring whole new perspectives for us all.”
Kerry Andew, Composer
Morgan Overton, Proms Inspire Young Composer
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
17
Hannah Peel, Musician, Singer and Composer
ngagement ic e ev l b
ts en
“My album Awake But Always Dreaming was inspired by a miraculous musical encounter one Christmas that ‘awoke’ my grandmother from the seemingly inaccessible world of dementia. Since meeting the Created Out of Mind team, I have been able to learn more about the power of music and inspired to raise awareness through my music.”
17 pu
Enriching public perceptions
17 pu
ts en
xhibitio 3&e broadcanss tp ia ie ed
s ce
The Studio Senses group from Central St Martins created ‘A Ceramic Diary’ – ageuses menthe a series of vessels, ngthat te ic e characteristics v bl of clay to communicate stories of dementias.
9m
including creative activities, discussion, performances and exhibitions
Left: A ceramics student prepares a display at the British Ceramics Biennale 2017 in Stoke-on-Trent
including creative activities, discussion, performances and exhibitions
xhibitions 3e
The public help us reimagine dementia campaigns through typography and print at Wellcome Collection.
including graphic design and ceramics work
ave
28
0 avera 300 & wor ge s ksh k op tal s
‘The Neuronal disco’ recreates the brain’s neural networks through dance, aiming to stimulate curiosity about the healthy and aging brain.
including graphic design and on ceramics work3, The BBC Radio including Telegraph and The Guardian
unique visitors to website delivered at national and international conferences
inc Te
18
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Working differently “I’ve learnt that research does not always have to follow a predetermined path. By embracing uncertainty and collaboration, you can open up potential for innovative discoveries.” Gemma Goodall, PhD Student, Nottingham University
Lionel, who lives with semantic dementia, has a shared passion for paint with visual artist Charlie Harrison. Here Lionel stands with a piece he made after a session with Charlie. Image: Charlie Harrison.
Within Created Out of Mind scientists, artists, writers, clinicians, carers and people living with dementias have actively engaged with the practices of others with which they are unfamiliar to approach dementia research in an innovative way. Tensions have also arisen, for example between our desire to include people living with dementias at all stages of their condition, and engrained research governance frameworks which can prohibit the involvement of people at later stages of their dementia. We have expanded on some of the opportunities and challenges of interdisciplinary working in our recent pre-planning paper, on Wellcome’s Open Research platform2.
“As a painter I’m accustomed to working alone in the studio, so my ways of working Wellcome Hub have changed dramatically. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to work with a Created Out of Mind are the second residents of The Hub at Wellcome Collection, a dynamic, interdisciplinary research diverse range of people and knowledge, space and resource for interdisciplinary projects exploring a privilege which builds on work with the connections between science, medicine, life and art. people with dementias.” “Created Out of Mind have embraced Charlie Harrison, Artist, Created Out of Mind the spirit of The Hub with creative research challenging Wellcome’s Charlie’s work also focuses on neuropsychological testing perceptions of dementia, health and and how art might inform reciprocal research in the field. identity. They have set up inquiries that He has recently published a paper called ‘Profiles in paint’ which explores how visual arts and artistic production might demonstrate how critical a diversity offer insights into different forms of dementias. of practices is to understanding and improving our understanding of health 1 C harles R. Harrison, Sebastian J. Crutch et al. ‘Profiles in paint: contrasting responses to a common artistic exercise by people with different dementias’ Arts and Health, (Nov 2017); and its social and cultural contexts.” DOI: 10.1080/17533015.2017.1402795 1
2 B rotherhood, Emilie, Sebastican, Crutch et al. ‘Preparatory planning framework for Created Out of Mind: Shaping perceptions of dementia through art and science’ Wellcome Open Research, version 1, (Nov 2017); DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.12773.1
Harriet Martin, Hub Partnership Manager, Wellcome
Shaping perceptions of dementias Residents of The Hub, Wellcome Collection
Looking Forward “Working across specialisms is no longer notably out of the ordinary, or necessarily in and of itself good. Within the expanding field of interdisciplinary work, we increasingly need to look for projects that make significant differences and have real impacts. Wellcome set up The Hub in the hope of finding and supporting groups striving to do just that; and in Created out of Mind we have struck gold. Drawing on mixed perspectives and, crucially, people with diverse and direct experiences of dementia, their work to date has been fascinating, meaningful, and often moving; and it promises to lead to insights and shifted attitudes that can promise a significant impact on an increasingly important health and medical issue.” Ken Arnold, Creative Director, Wellcome
“Recent events, including publication of the all-party parliamentary group report Creative Health, the Royal Society for Public Health’s support of a series of dementia and arts conferences, and the formation of the Commission on Dementia and Music, point to a dementia and arts field poised to make a widespread impact on our society. Through the free educational Mass Open Online Course (MOOC), online book and other works we are developing, the Created Out of Mind team look forward to sharing both the principles and practice of creative arts work with an ever wider community of artists, care professionals, policymakers and people with dementia, their family and friends.” Sebastian Crutch, Director of Created Out of Mind
19
Created Out of Mind The Hub, Wellcome Collection 183 Euston Road London NW1 2BE E: info@createdoutofmind.org W: www.createdoutofmind.org T: @createdhub F: @createdoutofmind I: createdhub