Generations come together to celebrate National Arts in Care Homes Day | News
Generations come together to celebrate National Arts in Care Homes Day
Residents, students and visitors enjoyed a week of creativity, conversation and connection as we celebrated Arts in Care Homes across our care homes on 21, 22 and 23 September.
This year's national theme, "Stories that connect us", encouraged people to share memories, experiences and reflections through nature-inspired art. We created ‘Woodland walks’ at each home using leaf printing and creating our own woodlands stories. Conversations throughout the room were inspired by nature, the seasons changing and sustainability.
Professional artists, The Painted Ladies, led the sessions, supporting residents and local school students to work together to create their unique woodland-themed artworks.
The celebrations began at Woodlands on Monday. We were joined by residents and a family member and the woodland walks began taking shape. Brian, who lives at Woodlands, loves art and he settled himself into the morning and particularly enjoyed the effect of the printed leaves.
At Saxonwood residents welcomed students from Battle and Langton Primary School and Claverham Community College. Together, they explored nature through art, taking inspiration from their experiences in the parks and woodlands around Battle. The room was filled with laughter, teamwork and a real sense of community spirit.
The week concluded at Oakwood Court on Wednesday, where residents were joined by pupils from Bolnore Village Primary School and Holy Trinity Primary School. Everyone enjoyed discussing their favourite outdoor places and there was a lot of chatter from students about the squirrels they spotted in the woods as they walked up to Oakwood Court!
The impact of creativity and connection
Arts in Care Homes Week is a national celebration led by the National Activity Providers Association. The sessions highlight the important role art plays in supporting wellbeing, self-expression and social connection. Our events demonstrated how creativity can bring people together, strengthen community relationships and create lasting memories for everyone involved.
A huge thank you to The Painted Ladies, the students and staff from the participating schools, our residents, colleagues and visitors who helped make Arts in Care Homes Week such a memorable celebration.