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Leonard Dibb-Western and Ray Pearce - old shipmates Bristol Merchant Navy Memorial, July 2003

CRUEL SEA 2003-2006

Age Exchange worked with veterans from the wartime Merchant Navy, beginning in the Summer of 2003, with the objective of raising the profile of the service during the Year of the Sea in 2005. The project culminated in a major national touring exhibition funded by the Arts Council of England.

Age Exchange is currently compiling an archive of the material collected throughout the project, for distribution to museums around britain.

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Scene from from the Creative Ageing production 'A View From The High Beech' Cromer, Norfolk 2003

THE NATIONAL CREATIVE AGEING PROJECT 2002-2005

The project consisted of direct work with older people and their carers, using a combination of reminiscence and arts skills to enable the older people to develop new forms of expression, and share their learning and life-experiences. The work was based on the development of good relationships built on trust, understanding and respect, between the project workers, older disabled people, care staff, volunteers and managers of services.

'Creative Ageing' was an Arts and Health Project that explored the links between reminiscence, creativity, health and well-being. Older people in care settings remain relatively excluded. The project recognised their ability to produce art based on their life-stories that is both entertaining and educational. The rest of society will benefit from learning from these too often neglected talents. We must give them equal opportunities to be creative and to be valued as being creative.

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Memory Box by Leela Bin Patel with artist Steve Wilson

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MAKING MEMORIES MATTER 2004-2005

Over 100 older people from 7 European countries worked with artists to make their life stories into Memory Boxes. These boxes toured museums and galleries across Europe in 2005. On view together, they offered a fascinating mosaic of Europe's cultural heritage over the last 80 years. The exhibition was supported by a programme of performances, lectures and workshops.

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