Different art forms hit different sweet spots.

Geelhoed, Erik ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7152-1186 and Harvie, Tamarin (2015) Different art forms hit different sweet spots. In: International Dementia Conference, 3 - 4 November 2015, NEC Birmingham. (Submitted)

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Abstract / Summary

‘Homeservice’ is a three year research project funded by the Arts Council and the Baring Foundation, Headed up by Arts for Health (Penryn, Cornwall) the project involves five different arts organisations offering arts interventions in care home settings in the South West of England. The project is currently in its second year. The primary research question is: How can arts organisations be more involved in arts interventions in care home settings? How does this type of work play a role in the remit of arts organisations and what are the benefits to care home residents involving an organisation rather than individual artists? Our findings indicate that this type of investment makes both business and artistic sense for arts organisations as they widen their reach by including the elderly (a captive audience in many respects) and pushes the need for innovative artistic approaches. In addition organisations are able to offer ‘bundles’ of different art forms, each form having a differential beneficial effect, each hitting a different sweet spot. The presentation includes an overview from a psychology angle showing how different art forms affect different areas of the brain in ‘normal’ people as well as dementia sufferers.

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