A new exhibition, Beyond Dementia, has opened at The Whitworth Manchester, exploring the lived experience of dementia and highlighting the positives.
Curated by Fabulous Forgetful Friends, the exhibition looks beyond the condition itself and includes artworks created by a group of people living with dementia. These are displayed alongwide works from the Whitworth’s art collection.
Fabulous Forgetful Friends is based in Manchester and organised by a not-for-profit communited company, Together Dementia Support. In curating the exhibition, they aim to explore and support active citizenship for these individuals. The exhibition, alongside its accompanying public programme, seek to foster a unique approach to a better understanding of dementia.
The exhibition looks at how we work with this living with dementia, focusing on living beyond the disease. Beyond Dementia brings together the stories of a group of people living with dementia along with artworks they have produced.
Alongside Beyond Dementia will be a programme of free events. These events include Mindfulness for Carers, opportunities to become a Dementia Friend, artist-led activities and film screenings. The workshops aim to give insight into the benefits of engaging in the arts and how we think about dementia.
Speaking of the exhibition, Ronnie Lomax of Fabulous Forgetful Friends commented, “I hope that our display will play a part in changing our communities’ view of dementia and let us live for the moments we’re in. Remembering that even within the illness we remain very much individuals.
When is Beyond Dementia exhibited at The Whitworth, Manchester?
Beyond Dementia it exhibited at Manchester’s The Whitworth from 28 July until 17 September 2017.
What events are running as a part of Beyond Dementia at The Whitworth Manchester?
There are a series of events taking place as part of the Beyond Dementia exhibition at The Whitworth. All events are free, but some do require advanced booking and have limited spaces. Full details are available on the Whitworth’s website:
Exhibition talk and tour, 1 August 1pm (Collection Centre)
Exhibition curator Holly Grange and Arts and Health Partnership Manager, Wendy Gallagher, lead a tour of the Beyond Dementia exhibition.
Mindfulness for carers, 22 August 1-2pm (Collection Centre); 19 September 1-2pm (Art Garden)
The Whitworth offers a brief introduction to Mindfulness, focusing awareness and attention on the present whilst offering respite
Become a Dementia Friend, 13 August 11am-12pm (Meeting Room 1)
Learn what it’s like to live with dementia and how you can help end the stigma around the condition
Artist workshops
Decoupage/collage, 3 August 2-4pm (Learning studio)
Learn decoupage and collage techniques with Kate Eggleston-Wirtz and see how Fabulous Forgetful Friends created their assemblage pieces
Badge Making, 15 August 2-4pm (Collection Centre)
Lucy Burscough leads a session on making Beyond Dementia badges
Print-making, 29 August 2-4pm (Learning studio)
Alan Birch shows how to create artworks and prints
Create a sketchbook, 5 September 1-4pm
Join Theresa Fox Byrne in creating a memory making sketchbook and see how her practice has helped with her caring role
Film Screenings:
Still Alice, 10 August 1pm (Collection Centre)
A linguistics professor and her family find their relationship tested when she is diagnosed with early on-set Alzheimers.
Iris, 31 August 1pm (Collection Centre)
A drama that tells the story of Irish novelist, Iris Murdoch. When Iris begins experiencing forgetfulness and dementia, her husband John becomes her carer.
Further details of the programme events running alongside Beyond Dementia including booking requirements are available at http://www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk/whats-on/events/beyonddementia/
