Scotland’s first Dementia Arts Festival to take place at Eden Court, Inverness
A new arts festival is aiming to transform the experiences of people with dementia and their families by showcasing the work of talented artists, musicians, and performers, many of whom have a dementia diagnosis.
The first ever Scottish Dementia Arts Festival (SDAF) will include theatre, music, film, art and more, all with people living with dementia at the heart of the creative process.
The festival will take place at Eden Court, Inverness, from 13-16 November.
The Dementia Arts Festival’s inaugural programme will include a play, Caught in This Moment of Time, a performance of the songs from Dementia the Musical, a showcase of Born to be Alive, an album released earlier this year, and a range of other events including workshops, exhibitions, and performances.
The event is the brainchild of Deepness Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation based in Ness on the Isle of Lewis. Deepness Ltd uses creativity and the arts to promote wellbeing, and is run by and for people with cognitive issues and/or dementia.
Ron Coleman, a founder member of Deepness Ltd said: “We are thrilled to be launching Scotland's first ever Dementia Arts Festival. We believe that creativity and the arts have the power to bring joy and inspiration to people living with dementia, and to challenge stigma and misconceptions in society.”
“We hope that this festival will be a catalyst for future events and will help to raise awareness and understanding of dementia across Scotland."
The SDAF is expected to attract a diverse range of participants and visitors, including people living with dementia, their carers, family members, professionals, and the general public.
All events are designed to be accessible, inclusive, and dementia responsive, and tickets for all events are free.
