Tinted Lens Festival
of the Mind, Memory and Ageing
May 2017
During Dementia Awareness Week (17th May, 2017) I
organised a festival in collaboration with my friends at Chapter Arts in
Cardiff and Film hub Wales
This is part of my long-term collaboration with Chapter Arts.
An important part of that work is sharing my research with carers and people
with dementia to ensure it reflects their needs. My research also means I
cannot ignore the wider social exclusion and invisibility they experience -
this festival is part of my wider commitment to challenge this social exclusion
and to extend access to the arts.
The day included dementia friendly screenings of films
including Their Finest (10.30am), Calamity Jane:
Singalong (2pm) and Mad to be Normal (7.30pm),
that were shown without adverts and have slightly brighter lighting in the
auditorium, for people living with dementia to enjoy a film in a relaxed and
friendly environment. We also were lucky to screen the premiere of Forget-me-not Chorus: The
Documentary (6pm), a short film about the Forget-me-not Chorus, who
offer weekly singing sessions to help combat the loneliness and isolation of
living with dementia. The Forget-Me-Nots also performed live in the Cinema
Foyer and were joined by the award winning Welsh choir, Only Men Aloud, who
recently chose Alzheimer’s Society Cymru as their charity of the year.
The day included art and craft workshops, a Virtual
Reality experience from researchers at Cardiff University designed to
put you in the shoes of someone living with dementia, performances from Everyman Theatre Companyand Re:Live, dementia
friends training, information stalls, a fun photobooth, and lots more.
It also included presentations throughout the day by
academics at Cardiff University to showcase the wide range of research being carried
out to improve the lives of people with dementia and their families and the
care they receive.
The day was coordinated by Ellie Russell, Chapter’s Dementia
Project Officer:
“I’m so excited to be working with so many incredible
partners on this day, and to have the opportunity to play a role in breaking
down some of the barriers that can prevent people with dementia leading full
and rich lives. I believe that cinema should be accessible to all, and that
promoting inclusivity and embracing diversity has the power to enrich the lives
of everyone in society. I’ve seen how isolating a dementia diagnosis can
be, both for the person living with dementia and for their families and
friends, and I hope the day will not only raise awareness of dementia, but provide
a relaxed, supportive and inclusive environment for people to come together to
enjoy some really fantastic films and activities.”
