Investment in arts programme

Jointly funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Arts and Older People Programme will provide new opportunities for older people to engage with the arts, by joining a workshop or trying out a new arts activity.

Through funding new, innovative, community-led projects across art form areas such as dance, painting, crafts, storytelling, music and song, the programme will highlight and tackle the social justice issues older people face on a daily basis.

REVEALED

The first round of funding opens on 8th July, with grants of up to 50,000 available to arts organisations, as well as community and voluntary groups.

Research has revealed that 21% of people in Northern Ireland aged 65 and over feel lonely often or always. Sixteen per cent do not leave their homes more than once a week and 7% never leave their homes.

However those that participated in arts activities experienced positive results, reporting an improvement in their overall mood and confidence, as well as helping to relieve stress, worries and pain.

Rosemary Kelly OBE, Chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, explained: “We know that the arts have the power to raise self-esteem, confidence and motivation and can have a positive effect on an individual’s wellbeing. The arts have an important role to play in helping older people to find their voice, providing the tools to express the issues which affect them on a day-to-day basis, such as poverty, isolation, loneliness and mental illness.