Through the Excel Placement scheme I was fortunate enough to gain a placement with A2 Dominion, a care provider, working with an assisted living facility. This facility, Matilda Place catered for elderly individuals diagnosed with dementia and other cognitive impairments. I was lucky that my housemate Jaz was the second student to gain a placement here; we spent many nights working late and discussing the project together! From reading the job description we had believed the role would involve researching, before creating artworks to improve one area of the home.
Meeting with Hannah and Michael from A2 Dominion revealed the breadth of the project; they were happy to give us free reign over which areas received artwork. Being faced with three stories of wall space was a surprise to us both. Alongside this, we were also asked to lead weekly art sessions for residents, open to any who wished to attend.
After completing the necessary inductions and paperwork on our first day, we set to work surveying the building, noting areas that would suit artworks and further loosely outlining a timeframe. One of the key focuses of our brief was to ensure our contributions were suitable for those with cognitive impairment, and a large section of our first week was dedicated to researching and brainstorming. Alongside this we also spent a great deal of time at Matilda Place, getting to know the residents and staff; it was vital to us that the artworks we created reflected the individuals who lived and worked at the home.
The concept of sensory art, which viewers can interact with, surfaced often in our research. Encouraging individuals with cognitive impairment and dementia to use their hands and explore basic sensory responses could positively affect their wellbeing. It has also been highlighted that such engagement can help to unlock previous memories and associations that cannot be verbally expressed. Rather than solely create aesthetically pleasing pieces, the overarching concept we pursued was to create stimulating interiors that residents could touch and experience.
Look out for my next post to find out what we designed!
By Amy Flanagan
