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In the Picture

Dementia Friendly Gallery Tours

‘It was very good. We walked around and looked at all the art and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I do a bit of art myself and would like to do more of these types of visits.’ – Participant

‘This visit and indeed the other artistic ventures that Mam is involved in have made a remarkable difference to her life. Spending a great deal of time at home leads to boredom and feelings of isolation but when Mam is out and about participating in art and other cultural activities, she is at her best. She comes home full of life and buzzing from the activity. The In the Picture programme involves meaningful participation and I can see a huge difference in Mam when she returns from such activities. A day or so after the visit, Mam drew a haunting picture of a tree blowing during a gale.’ – Family Carer

Dementia Friendly Gallery Programme at Uillinn, West Cork Arts Centre

with Sarah Ruttle and Sarah Cairns

West Cork Arts Centre regularly invites people with dementia, and their professional and /or family carers to participate in a facilitated experience exploring the current artwork and exhibition space.

This programme represents a new way for rural Ireland to involve people with dementia, their family members and carers in a local arts facility.

Our sessions are about making observations, describing and building connections. Allowing each person the time to comfortably observe and experience the space and artwork. Each bespoke session facilitates a small group and includes light refreshments as part of the social and friendly approach.

Artist Sarah Ruttle describes, ‘In the Picture is a purposeful investigation of artwork in the gallery. Each session we take time to look at the artwork on exhibit and share space for communication through the senses. We will explore together how we see, feel and react to the artwork.’

This programme received an Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland Dementia Friendly Award in 2015 and is part of the Arts for Health Partnership Programme, West Cork.

Previous Tours

In the Picture, goes on tour for 2024

1st May 11am to 1pm in the Maritime Hotel

May’s Memory Café in Bantry will feature ‘In the Picture – on tour’, an Arts for Health Partnership Programme which usually takes place in Uillinn Galleries.  Attendees of the cafe will get a unique opportunity to have artworks brought to the cafe opening up conversation around the ideas brought forward by looking and exploring the selected artworks. Facilitated by Sarah Ruttle with session will feature artwork from a major retrospective exhibition by Brian Lalor.

The Retrospective Exhibition of the Work of Brian Lalor,  27 July to 12 October 2024, will include prints, publications, watercolours, drawings, sculpture, photographs, objects, artifacts and audio-visual presentations, curated by art historian, Vera Ryan.

Trained as an artist and architect, Brian Lalor is a master printmaker, a superb draughtsman, an art historian, a travel writer, editor and memoirist. In Lalor‘s work, the Arts and Crafts Movement’s philosophy of collaboration and of the artist as writer as well as practitioner is discernible. He is of the generation of Irish artists who provided subsidy within the arts sector through their initiatives. His role in Graphic Studio, Dublin (as member, chairperson and historian), and his parallel role in Cork Printmakers, in Blue House Gallery and in Ballydehob Arts Museum as founder director of both, and his donation of a significant historic print collection to the National Gallery of Ireland make him a leader in the Irish art community.

Bantry Memory café provides a warm and welcoming place for people to meet others also living with dementia/ cognitive impairment, their friends & family as well as health & social care professionals.

 

In the Picture 2023

Exhibition: Pascal Ungerer, Speculative Artifacts – Friday 24 February, 11am – 12.30pm

Exhibition: Brian Fay, The Most Recent Forever – Friday 21 April, 11:00am – 12:30pm​​

UILLINN_THE FALLOUT by Sérgio Leitão

 Friday 5 May, 2:00pm – 3:30pm, for carers and healthcare professionals 

​We are hosting a special event for ​people involved in caring for people living with dementia to give a glimpse of how a creative space and relaxed conversation can bring those who attend together and connect in different ways through the experience of art in a gallery setting. By sharing how a session in the gallery works we hope for you to get a real flavour of what ‘In the Picture’ is.
Why ​a carer or healthcare professional should attend:
  • Experience first hand what your community has to offer people with dementia and other cognitive differences
  • Engage in the process of viewing/interacting with art and culture ​- spark new conversations​
  • Be inspired and motivated to ​share your new experiences who live in the community and in care homes
  • Encourage a cultural community in your ​healthcare ​setting
  • Increase links into what is available in west cork for PWD

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UILLINN_THE FALLOUT by Sérgio Leitão ​​

For public

​​‘In the Picture’ ​​offers a guided exhibition tour specifically designed to support people living with dementia and their family, friends or professional carers, to engage with the artwork on show and enjoy a social experience. These special tours are about making observations, describing and building connections. Allowing each person the time to comfortably observe and experience the space and artwork. This seated tour includes light refreshments as part of the social and friendly approach. 

Image credit: Top and first photos by Kevin O’Farrell. Third photo by Sarah Ruttle.