Delighted to be selected as artist in residence for Creative Enquiry – Arts and Older People programme with Sirius Arts Centre. The aim of the residency will be to creatively explore fresh approaches to arts engagement with older people and to advance best practice models. My research work will focus around the latent and embodied knowledge and skill within older communities, that hold significant social and economic histories around the discourse of future sustainable living. 

Funded through the Arts Council/An Comhairle Ealaíon Invitation to Collaborate scheme, three residencies are taking place throughout Cork City and north County Cork, from June 2019 to January 2020. Participating artists include Marie Brett, collaborating with Cork Midsummer Festival; Helga Deasy and Susan McManamon collaborating with MusicAlive, the Skibbereen–based arts and health organisation; and Colette Lewis, collaborating with Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh.

Participating  with community and older people groups and with individuals, the four artists will creatively explore how and in what ways the arts contribute to the health and wellbeing of  people as they age. The artists will be exploring older peoples' knowledge of natural cures, charms and cooking. They will also looking at the power of music and dance and  seeking out older persons' knowledge of their communities.

The Creative Enquiry - Arts and Older People programme draws on the creative inputs and specialist know-how of the different partners that make up the consortium. It is initiative of Cork City Council and Cork County Council arts offices, in partnership with 'Age and Opportunity', the national organisation supporting people to reach their potential as they age and the HSE Cork Kerry Community Healthcare-Cork South Community Work Department and the three independent partner arts organisations.

http://www.siriusartscentre.ie/talks-learning-outreach/local-know-how