Hidden talent – exhibition reveals artistic skills of older people

Hidden talent – exhibition reveals artistic skills of older people

The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Arts Care are launching an exhibition of arts and craft by older people as part of the Here and Now arts festival.

The ‘RIPE’ exhibition opens on Wednesday 5 February at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, and features paintings, ceramics, photography and sculptures created by older people in health and social care, with the oldest artist aged 103.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the PHA, said: “Older people have so much to offer the community. This experience can sometimes be overlooked and many older people can feel isolated. Through this programme we aim to improve the health and wellbeing of older people, as well as challenge perceptions of ageing and promote older people’s active engagement in society.

“The initiative has been a huge success, and opened up new doors for older people, unlocking talents for everyone to enjoy, as the public will be able to see from the excellent work on display at the exhibition.”

The artwork featured in the ‘RIPE’ exhibition is by artists aged 60 years or over and who have never had a solo exhibition. Doris McCleery, who is 103 years old, is the oldest exhibitor and took up ceramics just six months ago when she moved to live in Kingsway private nursing home in Dunmurry.

The PHA has commissioned Arts Care to run the project. Jenny Elliott, Chief Executive of Arts Care said: “Doris McCleery embodies what the Here and Now Festival is all about. It is about the art of ageing well and people who engage with the world around them and take pleasure in their own creativity. Age is not a barrier.

“We knew instinctively that the right people were out there. Many of our artists have had other careers, in medicine, engineering, journalism, architecture and teaching, for example. Their art had to take second place to other responsibilities. Older age and the motivation to follow what they love passionately have meant they are more engaged with the artist within them and the time has come to pursue that interest.”

The exhibition runs from Wednesday 5 to Saturday 15 February at the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast.

The Here and Now project, now in its second year, was introduced to enhance the health and wellbeing of older people by bringing a range of high quality arts programmes to older people in health and social care across the whole of Northern Ireland.

Notes to the editor

The official opening of the RIPE exhibition is at 6:30pm on the Wednesday 5 February at the Crescent Arts Centre, University Street, Belfast.