Arts in Care Homes Day digital arts programme

Arts in Care Homes Day is an annual event championing, promoting, and encouraging arts engagement in care settings and highlighting the health and wellbeing benefits for all involved. In celebration of Arts in Care Homes Day 2022 the Arts and Culture Digital Inclusion Network has developed an engaging programme of creative workshops open to care providers in Leeds, free of charge.

The programme includes a range of art forms and cultural activities, such as dance, embroidery, music, and local history (there’s even a virtual canal boat ride!), and sessions are suitable to the needs of people being cared for, such as older people, people living with dementia, and people with learning disabilities.

We can help you with the digital bit

While the timetable does include some face-to-face sessions to be delivered in care settings, most of the sessions are delivered remotely via Zoom so multiple care settings can join in at the same time.

Each session description includes details of tech requirements. Anything in brackets isn’t essential but ‘nice to have’. For example, for sessions saying ‘(camera)’, participants can be on camera if your setting has access to a camera, the participants are comfortable being on camera, and your care setting has the relevant permissions, but being on camera isn’t essential to participating.

Most sessions require only a screen and speakers so where residents are joining in as a group the session could be played through a TV. If a resident is joining the session solo they could use a laptop, iPad, or other tablet. Contact 100% Digital Leeds if your care setting needs support.

Timetable of activities

View as timetable (GoogleDoc)

Monday 26th September

10:00am Sports Roundup with AspireCBS

A rundown of all last week’s sport and a chance to connect with and chat to other sports fans. Please note, this session will be recorded and shared on the AspireCBS website but attendees who do not want to appear in any recording are free to keep their camera off.

AspireCBS provides day services, supported living services, respite, and crisis services to adults with a learning disability and their family carers.

11:00am Be a virtual canal boat skipper with Canal Connections

Members of Canal Connections will be filming a trip along the beautiful Leeds Waterways. Participants will have the chance to communicate with the staff and the skippers and to ask them to take photographs.

Canal Connections explores the opportunities for social regeneration presented through the waterways and its environs by the innovative engagement of individuals, families, communities, and organisations whilst enhancing the built and natural heritage of that environment.

1.15pm Lunchtime Organ Concert with Leeds International Concert Season

An organ recital by Phoebe Tak Man Chow live from Leeds Cathedral. Trained at the Royal College of Music and having held church and cathedral positions in the UK and Ireland, Phoebe is currently Director of Music at All Saints, Orpington, and organ scholar at St Martin-in-the-Fields. The concert will feature: JS Bach – Prelude & Fugue in D, BWV532; Roger Wibberley – Ubi Caritas; René Becker – Sonata No 1: Praeludium Festivum; Prayer; Toccata; Josef Rheinberger – Sonata No 8.

Leeds International Concert Season presents around 200 concerts each year, featuring orchestra, chamber music, brass bands, two series of free lunchtime concerts, and a series of free brass band concerts in parks in the summer.

1:30pm Move it to Music with AspireCBS

A fun and energetic fitness class to lively music. The session can be adapted to all ability levels and attendees can remain seated throughout if preferred. The playlist is chosen by attendees so feel free to email some song suggestions when booking. Please note, this session will be recorded and shared on the AspireCBS website but attendees who do not want to appear in any recording are free to keep their camera off.

AspireCBS provides day services, supported living services, respite, and crisis services to adults with a learning disability and their family carers.

Tuesday 27th September

11:00am Reminiscing Records with Leeds Libraries

Reminisce your favourite songs and musicians over the years through our fun, inclusive and mindful musical session. Residents will be able to part take in this musical quiz as they listen and sing along to some live much-loved classics sung by one of our musical librarians. The session is inclusive and interactive, giving participants the opportunity to remember their favourite music throughout the decades in a safe and familiar environment as well as listen to live music online.

Leeds Libraries delivers a wide range of leisure, cultural, learning and information services. The library service offers safe, welcoming free and accessible spaces where people can meet, engage, interact, learn, and develop.

11:00am Neuro Dance with Ascendance

An energy-boosting, medium intensity workout that infuses specific exercises for the body and mind with the playfulness of dance. Come as you are, and dive into an inclusive dance community. This class blends 30 minutes of dance cardio with 15 minutes of choreography to upbeat music from around the world.

Ascendance is a charity organisation working in the Dance for Health sector, delivering outstanding participatory programmes, performances & films, based in Leeds, UK.

2:00pm Hidden Cinemas with Hyde Park Picture House

This talk will encourage people to remember their own favourite cinemas and share their experiences of cinema from years gone by. From much loved local fleapits to the ‘super cinemas’ of the 1920s and 30s, Laura’s illustrated talk will take you on a tour of some of Leeds’ best hidden cinema treasures, using photographs to tell their stories. Before the era of the multiplex cinema began, Leeds used to have many different and unique cinemas. Most of them have now closed for good, but some went on to become bingo halls, tile warehouses, flats, hotels, and even fish and chip shops! Of course, not all of the old cinemas in Leeds have closed their doors. The Hyde Park Picture House, built in 1914, still remains an active part of the city’s film scene. You can also find out more about each cinema we cover in our talk by using our online Leeds cinemas map, www.lostcinemas.co.uk

Established in 1914, the Hyde Park Picture House is one of the UK’s oldest cinemas. Known affectionately as the ‘cosiest cinema in Leeds’, the Picture House screens the very best independent, documentary and artist films from around the world. Their Grade 2 listed building has been closed for a while for some repairs, but will be opening soon with a brand new second screen and new accessible facilities. While they’re getting ready to open, they would like to share our remarkable story with as many people as possible.

Wednesday 28th September

10:15am The Aspire Entertainers with AspireCBS

A celebration of musical theatre, this weekly session includes learning ‘step-by-step’ dance routines to songs from hit musicals and virtual trips to the theatre. Previous sessions have included virtual trips to West End Live, Disneyworld, and an Elton John concert. The session content is led by the regular participants so varies from week to week. Take pot luck or contact Rebecca for more specific details in the week before this session takes place. Please note, this session will be recorded and shared on the AspireCBS website but attendees who do not want to appear in any recording are free to keep their camera off.

AspireCBS provides day services, supported living services, respite, and crisis services to adults with a learning disability and their family carers.

1:30pm Rock & Roll Bingo ‘70’s Hits’ Edition with AspireCBS

Bingo but with music! Attendees have 16 songs on their bingo card. Listen out for your songs and when you have a full house, unmute yourself and shout BINGO as loud as you can. Please download and print your bingo cards.

AspireCBS provides day services, supported living services, respite, and crisis services to adults with a learning disability and their family carers.

3:00pm Discover La Traviata with Opera North

This online session will introduce you to Puccini’s famous opera ‘La Traviata’ and take you on a journey through the ballrooms of high society in Paris. Led by vocal animateur Marie Claire Breen, this will be a friendly space to learn, sing, have fun, and meet people. If possible, it would be ideal to set the room in a semi-circle and for participants to have some space to move. Care settings may want to provide participants with a party drink, such as a plastic champagne flute of something fizzy, as we’ll be throwing a party just like the opening scene.

Opera North is a national opera company based in Leeds, and is a leading UK arts organisation. Rooted in the North of England, international in outlook, we create extraordinary experiences every day. Opera North believes opera and music is for everyone, and champions diversity in artists, repertoire, and audiences. Opera North Education connects with communities and inspires each generation, aiming to enhance the health and well-being of people in the communities where we work through arts participation and performance.

Preparation in advance: Why not dress up for the occasion? Participants could make a bow out of paper to wear in their hair or as a bow tie. Participants could listen to recordings of famous songs from La Traviata ahead of the workshop.

Thursday 29th September

11:00am Live Music Now 

Live Music Now present a live participatory performance featuring Leeds musician Simon Robinson. Join Simon as he plays a wide repertoire of traditional music, ranging from American mountain songs and Old Time Banjo tunes, Blues songs, chants and spirituals, through to British folk songs and sea shanties. He is passionate about facilitating music making in all different settings, and loves a good sing-a-long! 

Live Music Now fosters musical lives. You can find their musicians in care homes, schools, healthcare and community settings across the region. Their world-class musicians connect with people experiencing social exclusion or disadvantage, working together to create engaging, interactive live music sessions that meaningfully enhance health and well-being.

1:30pm Rock & Roll Bingo ‘Players Picks’ Edition with AspireCBS

Bingo but with music! Attendees have 16 songs on their bingo card. Listen out for your songs and when you have a full house, unmute yourself and shout BINGO as loud as you can. Please download and print your bingo cards.

AspireCBS provides day services, supported living services, respite, and crisis services to adults with a learning disability and their family carers.

Start time agreed at booking: Magical Mushroom, Autumn Bunting Party! Embroidery with Leeds Libraries

Discover the Botanical Treasures of Leeds Libraries Special Collection by using iPads to explore stunning rare hand-coloured illustrations of mushrooms and fungi from the eighteenth century. Participants will be able to select an image from the special collections to transfer to a pre-cut flag and decorate using embroidery, trimmings, buttons, and other fabrics and materials. When finished, the flags will be assembled to create a collaborative textile art work for the venue to display and keep. The session is colourful, visual, and tactile with fabrics and ribbons to select, hold, and manipulate. It can be adapted to any abilities with people having the opportunity to sew if they wish or assemble and have the facilitator complete.

The Art Library in Leeds Central Library is the largest and most comprehensive specialist public Art Library in the North of England. Discover a world of creativity in the iconic Art Library, established in 1956.

Friday 30th September

10:30am Mindfulness Stories with Artlink

Participants will take part in a gentle movement and storytelling workshop, with moments of music, games, and playfulness. Participants will assist the practitioner in adding details to stories, finding actions, expressions, and movements to bring different tales to life. The session will be led by the participants’ interests and ability. If you happen to have any percussion instruments please bring them along and join in!

Artlink West Yorkshire is an arts and health charity working with diverse communities in Leeds.  Working in a therapeutic and rehabilitative capacity, we have a strong focus on positive mental health and independent living through high quality arts activity delivered by our team of creative facilitators.

11:00am Inclusive dance for over 50’s with Sense

Join dance artist Rachel for an upbeat dance session. Sense Art’s dance sessions are for everyone, and whether you prefer to dance seated or standing, options will be given for both. No experience is needed, these sessions are all about having some fun. 

Sense is a national disability charity. They believe everyone should be able to take part in life, no matter their disability.

2:00pm Active Communities with RJC Dance 

A dance class designed for older adults to get moving, enjoy light exercise, and take part in some dancing. Janetta Maxwell takes each session, bringing music that gets toes tapping and faces smiling. The session can be adapted to all ability levels and attendees can remain seated throughout if preferred.

RJC Dance is the leading inclusive Black dance organisation in the North empowering children, young people, and adults through dance, movement and exercise.

3:00pm Connecting Stars: Autumn Leaves with Constella OperaBallet

Connecting Stars is an interactive collaborative concert between musicians and ballet dancers.

Constella are the world’s only company dedicated to opera-ballet and create cutting-edge, interdisciplinary performances for today’s audience. Founded by the award-winning composer and conductor Leo Geyer, Constella brings together pioneering musicians, dancers, visual artists, historians, garden designers, architects, poets, and costume-makers.

Anytime

Echome: make music through your movement

Imagine you could play the sound of a piano with a simple movement of your hand? Or the sound of a cello with your knee? Imagine you could create any sound you like – birdsong, sea waves, children laughing – with any part of your body you feel like moving. Welcome to echome! An accessible and intuitive technology that allows you to create any sound with any part of your body. The session will involve a set of simple activities that can be tailored to the participants’ needs and preferences and involve the creation of music and sound out of their movement. The technology involves a set of light wearable sensors that can be worn anywhere on the body and a simple computer interface. Participants can move individually, in pairs, or small groups, and the movement can be as small or as big as they choose. They will be able to select from a variety of music and sounds and work with the ones that appeal to their tastes and/or personal memories. The session aims to make movement fun, facilitate deep listening, and offer opportunities for collaboration between two or more participants. 

echome has been developed by academic researchers at the University of Leeds and arts practitioners in collaboration with end users. A recent pilot project with older people suffering from arthritis proved that echome encourages physical activity, offers opportunity for creative expression, and enables sociality and collaboration. As one of the participants said ‘it is as if the music bribes you into doing more than you would normally’. 

Wellbeing Workshop with Northern Ballet

This 30 minute digital dance workshop uses Northern Ballet productions to inspire gentle movement activity which can be accessed either standing, or whilst sitting down. There are two dance teachers leading the session, one is demonstrating from a standing position, the other from a seated position, so there is always someone to copy. The session covers the basics of good posture, and a safe warm up using ‘plies’ to various dance segments from Northern Ballet productions such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. To top it off, the session is accompanied by a live musician from Northern Ballet’s sinfonia. The session is pre-recorded, so you can pause, rewind, and repeat as you wish.

As the UK’s widest-touring dance company, Northern Ballet aims to share exceptional ballet with a diverse audience and create opportunities for everyone to be inspired by dance. Their Academy and Learning programmes enable people of all ages, means, and abilities to take part in dance activities, developing and nurturing emerging creative talent, training exceptional young dancers, and providing world-class dance facilities at our home in Leeds. They deliver outreach activities in the regional community and across our tours for people with limited access to the arts.

Write an original song with Swan Song Project

Swan Song believe a song can live forever, carrying precious memories and providing comfort and joy to listeners. Their songwriters support anyone approaching the end of their life or dealing with a bereavement to write a song, helping with every stage of the process, from finding initial ideas to finishing a recording. The song-writing process can be deeply therapeutic as well as being a lot of fun.

The Swan Song Project gives people planning the end stages of their lives and those surrounding them the opportunity to write and record their own original song. A professional songwriter provides support to guide each person, through finding the initial idea to the completed recording. No previous musical experience or abilities are required.

Purple Patch Arts Daily Activities

While their live programmes were closed due to Covid Purple Patch Arts posted daily activities on their website, in line with weekly themes like storytelling, poetry, and murder mystery. The activities use resources that you should be able to find in a care setting.

Since 2009, Purple Patch Arts has existed to provide innovative and inclusive creative learning opportunities that improve the lives of adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults by expanding their understanding of, and engagement with, the world.

Marks In Time with Marks and Spencer

Marks In Time includes lots of free online resources including pre-recorded talks, a virtual tour of their exhibition, fun resources for wine tasting, and a sheet music activity pack. They also offer free loan of Memory Boxes containing original clothing and accessories that can be used as memory prompts and to stimulate conversation.

The M&S Company Archive enables Marks & Spencer to celebrate and utilise its rich heritage for the good of the business, its customers, and the wider community. The Archive preserves, develops and facilitates access to its unique collection and delivers a dynamic programme of public engagement, using the collection to support and inspire the community.

Sharing learning and outcomes

We will close the week with a webinar as part of Leeds Digital Festival. ‘Creative Digital Inclusion in the Care Sector’ will be a first look at the impact of the programme and its success in supporting the arts participation and digital confidence of residents and staff at living and working in care settings. It will also be an opportunity to share best practice and look at what’s next.

Developing the programme

This project aims to support care providers to bring more arts and culture activity into their settings by engaging remotely via digital, and to develop staff digital skills and confidence. Arts and culture organisations will be supported to reach new audiences in care settings, expand their care setting offer, and form lasting partnerships with care providers.

Special thanks to the members of the cross-sector steering group who have developed this programme and, of course, to the arts and culture organisations who have contributed to this amazing programme, all of whom have given their time and resource without the support of funding. You can find out more about the development of this programme on our previous blog.