Michael Flannery

Shape-shifting Perspectives on Creative Ageing through Social Health, Arts and Personal Education (SHAPE) with Older Citizens

Michael Flannery – School of Arts Education and Movement, Institute of Education, Dublin City University, Ireland

Abstract:

Art engagement is appreciated as being highly valuable to one’s health and wellbeing at any stage of life. It can help maintain or improve older adults’ physical, psychological, social health and wellbeing. It can limit feelings of loneliness, disconnection and invisibility through social interaction and creativity. This paper explores art as an invitation to unexpected territories stemming from an age-friendly university (AFU) project at Dublin City University concerning Social Health, Arts and Personal Education (SHAPE). Titled “Making our mark”, the two-month initiative comprised art, drama and integrated studio experiences resulting in a public exhibition and short performance by participants that expressed their artistic journey into unexpected territories about self and society. Art specific experiences included neurographic drawing, metaphorical painting, print and sculpture, outdoor art, collaborative creativity. Other experiences included looking at and talking about work by other older artists using visual thinking strategies. While participants completed a pre-SHAPE survey and participated in a post-SHAPE semi-structured discussion, the more interesting data resided in mid-SHAPE photographic documentation of their creative work and transcribed reflections between the two SHAPE facilitators/ researchers involved. Findings indicated that “Making our mark” impacted positively on participants in relation to voice, visibility and vitality. To reference InSEA, through SHAPE, they thought, felt, sought, found and expressed their identity, uniqueness – their inner territory. Furthemore, as a teacher art educator and SHAPE facilitator, I found myself invited to unexpected territories and opportunities concerning integrated arts, arts integration and shape-shifted my perspectives on creative ageing and integrated approaches. While recognising findings are context specific, this presentation will be of interest to those interested in Social Health, Arts and Personal Education, creative ageing and age friendly university initiatives.