Conference: Creating A New Old
http://bealtaine.com/conference

“CREATING A NEW OLD” is a major global conference taking place from May 8th - 10th 2012 in Dublin, Ireland.  It is one of the Irish flagship events celebrating EY2012: the EU Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations.

I would really love to go to this conference over in Ireland -with the amount of talks, discussion (conference schedule) and thoughts around the process of ageing and creativity. It truly looks amazing.

I would have been particularly been interested in Anne Basting's talk on the second day - which is the individual, community and organisational cerativity focus. She has done some amazing work and would have been interested in her insights into bringing research together into a practical approach.

Alice Twaithe and Mike White are talking as well a whole host of other creative professionals from Ireland,  the UK and around the world.

Some of the other speakers I have researched:

Liz Lerman
http://danceexchange.org/
Dance and movement in the US

Susan Langford
http://www.magicme.co.uk/
Charity in East London - bring the generations together through the arts.

Michael Fortune and Bríd O’Sullivan
http://www.thewildbeesnest.ie
A project part-commissioned by Bealtanaine Festival with older people about song writing and singing
http://www.themagpiesnest.ie

Deirdre Walsh
http://www.artsandhealth.ie/case-studies/hearth/
Creative work within older people's own homes

Ríonach Ní Néill
http://www.danceireland.ie/local/project.php?id=3
The Macushla Dance Club

Susan Perlstein
http://www.creativeaging.org/
National Centre for Creative Aging

Anne Basting
http://www.ageandcommunity.org/about/staff.html
An educator, scholar and artist who has worked with creativity within care settings, particularly with people with issues such as dementia. She is also directing TimeSlips - another fantastic idea and resource.
Blog - http://forgetmemory.org/

Arti Prashar
http://www.sparetyre.org/
Theatre company working with older people - "theatre without prejudice"

Justine Foster
http://www.westcorkartscentre.com/
Provides a programme of activities and work for older people. They also have a regular art group - Arts for an Active Mind (AFAM).
(Might have to check, but I think this gallery was also involved with the pilot of working with older volunteers - have to dig out the article!)

Rachel Massey
http://www.culture-club.org.uk/
Culture project for over 55's in the Kirklees area. They have volunteer programmes to give older people support to access the arts and culutre.
Part of Open Art - http://www.open-art.org.uk

CoisCéim and Dublin City Arts Office
http://www.coisceim.com
Dance and theatre. 50+ drop-in dance sessions and other access to dance - http://www.coisceim.com/WildandWonderful.html

There is funding available to get over there, but I jsut couldn't justify the time or cost at the moment.
http://www.grundtvig.org.uk/page.asp?section=00010001001800010006§ionTitle=Visits+%26+Exchanges

Even though I'm not going I have learnt a great deal just from knowing who is going and researching through the speakers to fins out about what other projects are going on out there.

08/05/12 -
I've also found out that the conference is going to have some things online throughout the event. And there are some more info and videos..
Dominic Campbell

http://www.facebook.com/Bealtainefestival