Arts & Culture

Talking to Challenging Attitudes, author Maeve Binchy had the following advice for other older people who are interested in getting involved in the arts: "If you want to be a singer, sing. If you want to be a dancer, dance and if you want to be a writer, put some time aside this week and write."

Encouraging greater participation in the arts by older people is a key priority for Age & Opportunity. We are involved in a number of different ways:

• Co-operating with the Arts Council, national and local arts agencies and groups of older people to develop policy and best practice for work with older people;
• Supporting and encouraging national and local arts agencies and institutions to provide opportunities for older people to participate in the arts;
• Encouraging older people, including those in care settings, to avail of arts opportunities, something which in turn challenges stereotypical notions about older people and their capacities.

Our major arts-related programmes are the Bealtaine fesitval, celebrating creativity in older age, and Creative Exchanges, our Arts in Care programme.