The Age Friendly Museums Network Cross-Sector Conference, held at the British Museum, focused on the importance of engaging older adults in the arts, particularly through dance, to combat stereotypes and promote well-being. The conference addressed challenges such as access, funding, and representation in arts programs, while emphasizing volunteering's benefits and its role in providing purpose and connection. Additionally, discussions highlighted the need for museums to evolve into inclusive spaces that foster intergenerational interaction and address the health and social needs of an aging population.

1. Age Friendly Museums Network Cross Sector Conference:
Thursday 16th
February 2017, British Museum 9.30am-4.30pm
Notesmade by Mary B (Marette) Hickford – marette.hickford@gmail.com
NOTE: I have not captured all information givenby the speakers; Please alsoaccept my sincere
apologiesifthese noteshave misconstruedthe messagesmade through the speechesgivenbythe
speakers.
Creative Ageingby Sadler’sWellsand RoehamptonInstitute
Parkinson’sDiseaseandDance – Why the condition?:
 Capacityto be able to do something
 Contextforpeople tomove
 Structuredwayof trainingandexpandedoffertopeople tojoin
 Demand-led
Sadler’sWellsCompanyof EldersandEnglishNational Ballet’sEldersGroup:
 Bringingage intothe mainstream
 Sadler’sWells15years involvementwith60yearswho are now 75 yearsold
Why Dance?
 Sense of feelinglovelyagain
 Sadler’sWells –to challenge stereotypes
 Feelingsexy
 Expressive
 Empowerment
 Freedom
 Sense of risk – doingsomethingtheydon’tnormallydoandfeel
 Givinga performance,especiallyatthe ENB
Sector:
 2014 – ElixirFestival started
 2017 – itis nowa generational show witha92 year oldchoreographer;journeyfromtrained
dancerto performer
 Parkinsonssuffererssetupowndance group
 Arts → Therapeutic
 Arts projectwithdementia–importantrole of carer for the project’ssuccesswiththe carer
as the dance partner
PartnershipFunding –howandwhere to getit:
 Spreadof classeswithseveral organisations,dance,charities,independentartists
 Thinkregionallyandlocally
 Robustresearchcan leadto NHS CommissioningFunds –GPs interestcanbe high
 Arts Council fundingformuseumswillbeginovernextcouple of years(audience
announcementduringpresentation)

2. Issuesforinvolvement:
 Gatekeepers
 Access – transport,especiallyinrural areas
 Certainpartnersandsettingsmayhave differentinfluences
 Initial contactto people notinvolvedindance –tastersessionsoffer?
 Beyondthe middle classes(videoshowndepictsdance participantswhowere frommiddle-
classwhite backgroundsandwho’dinitiallyhadsome dance experience fromyouth)
 Projectsneedtobe representative thoughindependentcompaniesalreadyworkingwith
workingclasses –lowprofile
 Ballroomclassestopchoice amongstmanyparticipants
 Hip Hopprojectin SouthLondon(specificclasses?ethnicgroups?)
 GreenwichDance – Olddance hall usedfor bothballroomandcontemporary
How can we use recentresearch exploringpopulationchange to informour practice?By Oxford
Institute of PopulationAgeing and Centre for AgeingWell
Centre for AgeingWell
Routesto bringaboutbetterlaterlife:
 Exercises
 Neighbourhoodsandlivelihoods
 Communitycontributionsthroughvolunteering
VolunteeringActivities:
Neighbourliness
↓ → individual
Informal/Semi-formal
↓ → donations
Formal
↓ → volunteering
Civic→ magistrate,councillor
= Evidence limitedtoformal involvements
Benefits?
 Social interactions
 Isolation
 Loneliness –retirementandbereavement
Associationbetweenhelpingothersandsocial interactionsandrelationships
Formal/informalvolunteeringhealthmeasures:
↑ walkingactivities

3. ↑ strength– grip
↓fewerdepressive symptoms
↓fewerfunctional limitations
↑improvedcognitiveskills –memoryandbrainactivity
↓reductioninmortalityratesfor volunteers
Volunteers:
 Well-beingandsense of purpose
 Dignity
 Independence
 Pleasure
 Happiness
Give and take of interactionimportantforelderlypeople:
 Task satisfaction
 Self-esteem
Feelinglife hasmeaningassociatedwithlowercancerrates,heartdisease andcognitive decline
Project– ‘Men’sSheds’beganinAustralia;Now 350 in the UK:
 Greatermental stimulation
 Meaningful role
Legacy of volunteeringfromyounglifevariesbetweenpeoplenotacrosstime
Those inexcellenthealth –40% volunteering;40% richestincome groupin50+years
Volunteering=white classactivity
Who are the people whobenefit?
 Those whohave most to gain:
o Low-level education
o Mildmental healthproblems
o Unmaterialistic(?) households
Institute of PopulationAgeing
Researchintomuseumvisitors,volunteers,trusteesandmembers:
 Visitors–45-74 yearsoldsmore likelytovisit
 Volunteers –45% over65 yearsand decline over75 years
Demography – compressedfertilityandincreasedlongevity
2014 - medianage = 40 years
2037 – disproportionate populationover65 years(rich,rural areas?)
Noteveryone livinglonger
Healthlife expectancynotinline withlife expectancyrates
Change inoldage:
 Changesto retirement

4.  Extendingworkinglives
 Carersof grandchildrenand/orparents
 Over75 yearsfastestgrowingage groupbut not all seeingsame increasesinhealth
expectanciesanddisabilities
Seeingelderlypeopleasassets:
 Manchester– ambassadorsforradiostation;2011-12 – 80 reached1,500+ people
Adaptations:
 Outreach – ‘memoryboxes’
 Trainingto carers
 Pop-upexhibitionsforresidential care settings
 Partnerships
Creative digital engagements:
 Apps
 Intergenerational work
Issues:
 Transport
 Expenses
 Fear
 Unvalued
 Personal circumstances
 Bureaucracy
Participationbreedsparticipation:
 Grandparentslookingaftergrand-childrenalso volunteer
Informal volunteering:
 75 years+ stayinvolvedinthistype ratherthanformal volunteering
Whydo age—friendlymuseumsmatter?ByMartin GreenOBE, AgeingWell inWales,Universityof
Leicesterand National MuseumsLiverpool
Martin GreenOBE
Demographicchange – olderpeople reflectiveof Society
Museums:
 Intergenerational space
 Contributors
 Addrichnesse.g.warexperiences/memories
 Projectswithyouth,relationshipscontinue beyondsuchactivities
 Those withdementiacancentre themselves
 Wellbeingpartof the Care Act
National MuseumsLiverpool

5. Museumsare communities’cultural heritage
Live well =opportunity,choice andhealth
 Don’tmisspeople by givingthemlabels
AgeingWell inWales
 Age-friendlycommunities
 Partnershipsandsmall projectstocascade intomuseums,librariesetc
 Proactive!
UniversityofLeicester
 Categorisingpeople
 How projectscanreach more people aspopulationshiftsto olderpeople
 How societythinksof olderpeople:
 Burdens= challenge the deficitmodel
 Museums – debatingenvironmenttochallenge thinking
 To age well
Issues:
 Engagementwithleadersof local authorities,leisurecompanies,social care networks
 Gap betweenmuseumsandhealthservices
 Questionaboutstructuringservicestoolderpeopleaswithchildrenandthe young
 Leadersneedtobe advocates
 Leadershipappearingindifferentorganisationsbutnotinmuseums
 Childrenseeingageingasa natural process – 50 years+now seenasold
 Treatmentof people aspeople
 Where are the sharedexperiences?
 Stopcategorisingandstart findingoutwhatpeople are interestedin
 Fundingorno funding,don’thinge workonabid
Inspiringthrough objects: The Portable AntiquitiesScheme andEncounteringthe Unexpectedby
the BritishMuseum and UniversityofLeicester
British Museum
 FindsLiaisonOfficerssupportedbyBritishMuseum
 82,000 objectsof archaeological significance
 Communityfindingscheme:
 On the jobtraining
 Workshops
 Acrossthe UK – expensescovereddue totravel beingabarrier
 200+ volunteerswhichinvolves70-80 yearswhichisdifferentfrommostmuseum
volunteeringschemeswherethisage groupdoesn’tappear
 Includesstudents,metal detectoristsand retirees
 Flexible opportunities:
 Recording
 Photography
 Rallies
 Blogging
 Outreach
 Olderpeople –identifyandrecord-checking
 Academics

6. Volunteercase studies:
 VolunteerOne –to be himself,breakfromcaringandhas a fixedsocial point
 VolunteerTwo – learnedhowtouse a database whichimprovedhishome computeruse
 VolunteerThree –gainedcertifiedqualifications
 VolunteerFour– metal detectoristwhobecame interestedinflintsandhasbecome an
expert
 ColunteerFive –became interestedinmedieval coins,neverhadanypreviousknowledge
aboutnow an expert
Benefits:
 Local programmes
 Trainingsupport
 Wide range of rolesincreasing
 Remote volunteering
 Differentcommunities
 Safe and familiar
 Definedroles
 Rehabilitation
 Newskills
 Anothersocial circle
UniversityofLeicester
Encounteringthe Unexpected:
 Natural heritage andnature
 Two yearsproject
 By 2020, 65years+ will outnumberchildrenunder5years+
 To have a positive understandingof ageingprocess:
 Self-worth
 Autonomy
 Presentandfuture
↓
Museums’projectssurroundingmemoryhave become adefaultsetting.
 ‘7 MillionWonders’byHenryMagee (?)
 Physical energy
 Positive outlookonlife
 Projectteam:
 Museumscollections
 Specialists
 Values
 Ageing
 Nature/Wildlife
 Engagement
= Tradingzones – equitable environments
= Nomodels,noblueprints
= intersectionof practice
 Collectionsinvisiblewitholderpeople
= internal museummanagementandpractice
Breakout Session:Co-producingwith olderpeople byHorniman Museumsand Gardens
 Goingbeyond the medical paradigm
 Civicparticipationmore important
 Co-production –developinganddeliveringprojecttogether
 Intergenerational

7.  Museumpartner– OPAN – olderpeoples’artsprojectswithinLewisham
 Journeysof AppreciationProgramme (JOAP)
 Community Groups – marginalisedpeople whodon’tvisitmuseumsfordifferentreasons
 HornimanMuseum’stwoprinciplesof collaborationandempowerment:
 Youth forums
 Olderpeople
 Music Matters
 CommunityConnections
 Stroke Association –Sensoryactivities
 Community Connections
 Consortiumof local charitiesandorganisations
 FundedbyCroydonCouncil
 Identifyinggroupsforinputandempowerment
 Move fromthe museumtothe communitycentre
 Transport alwaysanissue
 What definesoldage?
 2018 – newanthropologygallery
 Discoverybox projects –connectionsbetweendifferentobjectstoidentifythemes;
objectscan be collectedfromoutside the museum
 SilverSunday:Octoberevent
 Rootsand BranchesProject
 Local areas
 Research
 Arts andcrafts
 Collectionhandlingstalls
 Historypin
 4 planningsessions
 Deliveryof object-basedsessionforfamilies
 Pay communitygroupstorun sessions
 SilverSunday –memorieswall forfamiliestoworktogetheron
Newstudiospace at HornimanMuseum:
 Groups workingwithartiststocreate exhibitionsinresponse tocollections
 Shiftingopinion=gettingpeople intothe same room