Play Resource has been delivering high quality arts programmes for children and young people throughout Northern Ireland for over 20 years. In 2010 with funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland we introduced a new programme ‘Age and Creativity’ which aimed to give older people access to the arts. This programme developed in response to the growing number of groups working with older people that are using our services has been a great success! Some positive outcomes were;

• individuals had an opportunity to get together socially
• express themselves
• communicate with each other
• keep active physically and mentally
• develop new skills
• showcase their art work
• most of all HAVE FUN!

We are delighted to continue this work through Funny Bones which is our new arts programme with older people which is now running in five centres throughout Belfast with funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

We’ve teamed up with the Ulster Museum working with Colleen Waters Head of Learning and Partnership for this project which began in February 2016 with group visits to the museum. This gave us access to the expertise of Dr Geraldine Macartney, Science Education Officer who opened up a world of ammonites, fossils, bones, dinosaurs, animals, sea creatures which sparked creative ideas and also new interest!

The arts programme is led by artists Anna O’Kane and Anne Quail with participants from City Way Day Centre; Families Beyond Conflict; Loopland Fold; Men’s Shed and Newington Day Centre who have been creating artworks that have drawn inspiration from the artifacts and specimens seen in the museum interpreting them in materials such as felt, wood, plaster and clay. Their artwork sets out to reflect the essential aspects of everyday life – their place, social structures, work life, memories, humour and celebration. These themes will be expressed in a range of art forms including sculpture, costume and art installations that will go on public display in an exhibition opening at the Ulster Museum, Discover Art Zone on Thursday 28th April to Friday 27 May 2016.