Museum of Oxford
Moments and memories is the Museum of Oxford’s (MOX) Older People’s Programme (OPP) which offers an exciting range of activities and events to connect and engage older people in the fabulous museum environment. All sessions are free and activities are welcoming and accessible. The Connected Communities Fund has supported the overall programme, so that over 60 people a month can benefit from a range of sessions. The funding also helped MOX to pilot the Creative sessions an important addition to the programme.
The Tea and Talk session is a relaxed opportunity to have a cup of tea, meet new people and find out information about other museum activities. Annabel, the Older People’s Programme Officer said, ‘Tea and talk can be an introduction for some people into other things. One lady started coming to tea and talk and then came to everything. She got to know other people where she lived in supported housing. There is a lot of sharing information.’
Annabel went on to explain about Memory Lane which is a facilitated discussion sometimes with a presentation or a film people based on what people would like to do. The group talk about why they came to Oxford and share memories, observations, photos and films. ‘We brought in fashion one month so that people could touch suits and dresses and watched a film of a May Ball.’ The session brings people into to Oxford from places such as Kidlington, Wantage and Faringdon so its important that the session is in the afternoon giving people time to travel and shop or do other activities in Oxford.
Annabel commented that, ‘There are a lot of regulars who enjoy learning about the city so that they can feel more connected to the city. A lot want to share and it’s a very relaxed environment, a lady who didn’t share her name in the beginning now does.’
Movers and Shakers is about moving and gentle dancing as a way to keep fit as well as socialise. A few of the group come from areas such as Northway and Thame and have the opportunity to go for lunch after the session.
Exploring creativity
The Creative sessions (social, art and craft making) are a new addition this year developed based on feedback from older people which revealed an interest in arts based activities, especially craft and practical art making. I was lucky to attend a session on cyanotype printing.
I walked through the museum and down the stairs into a hidden space which is bright and welcoming, where the MOX OPP run their Creative sessions. The three pilot sessions are facilitated by Kate who leads on the arts and crafts and Annabel from the museum. Participants have enjoyed sessions on clay modelling and felt making but today it was cyanotype printing which I was excited to try.
At the beginning the participants were asked why they came and responses ranged from, ‘to meet friends and new people,’ which was especially important to a participant who said that they lived alone, ‘to learn something new’, with one person commenting that it gives them, ‘something to teach my grandchildren’. Others mentioned that, ‘it’s part of lifelong learning it’s free and flexible’ and that the sessions are, ‘very well thought out not trivial and it’s worthwhile’. This was my experience. It was obvious that a lot of care and experience has go into the development of the programme.
The cyanotype process was clearly explained by Kate using a presentation projected onto the studio wall. She included details of the chemical process that takes places when the paper is exposed to the sun realising that there may be some in the group who have an interest or a chemistry background. I found it fascinating and a participant commented, ‘its important that we are not patronised’. The process was also broken down into easy steps, with one person commenting, ‘I’m not artistic but we are taught through the process’.
The group began by cutting out motifs from around the museum and arranging them into a design which they then transferred onto coated paper and exposed to the sun. There was a lovely atmosphere with people helping each other and being encouraged by the facilitators. As the artwork took shape people told me why the sessions were important to them.
Reducing isolation, improving connections
Many people talked about the need to socialise and not feel isolated. The timing of the group is also important as Annabel explained,’ It’s important to have the group on a Friday as there are a lot of activities during the week and for those who don’t see anyone at the weekend it’s a long gap.’ One participant said it was important to stay sociable and keep moving when you retire and how if you don’t, you age and ‘it affects your whole wellbeing’. They said that, ‘loneliness is one of the big killers as it can lead to depression so prevention is important’ but they, ‘feel so uplifted [coming to the sessions]… it’s huge for your well-being.’ Others commented that, ‘It’s good for your mental health,’ and, ‘It’s about doing something different and you can meet up with people especially if you’re alone’. Another person shared their experience as a carer, ‘self neglect becomes a way of life… so you need to do something for yourself, it’s a habit that needs to be broken.’
Annabel explained that a lot of social interaction for older people is transactional e.g. buying something at the shop but, ‘here people can talk about other things’. She commented that, ‘social interaction is key as loneliness is such a terrible thing.’ The activities also create connections to people outside of the sessions, ‘It has a knock on effect, you meet people and see them in other places and can talk’.
Welcoming, accessible sessions for all
I was so impressed by the care and attention that went into planning the sessions by Kate and Annabel, the ethos of the sessions are great. They explained that they wanted to create a friendly, atmosphere which is accessible to everyone, where you don’t need to be able to draw or paint. The participants mentioned, the ‘welcoming atmosphere ’ and, ’it’s a safe environment and people don’t judge they’re very supportive’, ‘It’s a bit of escapism and gets us out and about with a feel good factor’. Individual activities each month ensure it’s accessible as you can come for one session or all three and everyone helps each other, ‘so it’s also about peer support and sharing.’ A few participants also mentioned the cost, ‘as soon as you charge people wouldn’t come and another agreed, ‘I don’t think we could afford it if it wasn’t free’.
Annabel emphasised, ‘We pick activities where everyone can succeed…you don’t need to be able to paint or draw and we make sure we give people time to finish each artwork so they have something to display. We try to keep people at the same speed in a quiet calm space. People who didn’t enjoy art in school enjoy coming to the group.’ Groups members agreed, ‘Printing at school was never this nice especially with a cup of tea and a biscuit’, ‘I can’t knit or crochet but I can do this’. I hadn’t considered the importance of the tactile nature of the sessions. Annabel commented, ‘older people are touching objects but these are not necessarily pleasurable and sensory in a positive way’. One lady said, ‘we used clay the other week and I hadn’t touched it since school so it’s great to learn new things’.
The group created stunning white and Prussian blue images which emerged from the paper as they washed the paper in baths of water. The session ended on a celebratory note, as group members, encouraged by the delivery team, pegged their cyanotype prints up so they could look at each other’s work.
Annabel and Kate highlighted that people are inspired by other people’s artwork, ‘it also helps how they feel about themselves.’ Annabel gave several examples of people who’s confidence has grown over the weeks. For one person it was their first time of taking part and shared that it was ‘good to talk to people my own age as you need something positive for good health. It helps with confidence and self esteem if someone likes what you have created.’
One of the fabulous volunteers summed it up perfectly, ‘It’s great when people see what they’ve created if they haven’t done artwork since school. They’re shocked at what they’ve been able to do, ‘‘I did that’’. People help and encourage each other and friendships are created. People about worry about going into a new environment and having the right brush so this group makes it easy.’
Everyone was enthusiastic about the sessions, ‘It’s brilliant we could do with it twice a month’. One of the volunteers said that MOX, ‘is the most wonderful experience…it is my second home.’ As Annabel noted, ‘creativity is good for the soul!’
The Connected Communities Fund, is being delivered in partnership by OCVA and Community First Oxfordshire and has been made available by Oxfordshire County Council.
