2022 marks 10 years of Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation. We asked their Director, Anne Gallacher, about what they’ve learned after 10 years, and what the future has in store for those ageing creatively in Scotland.
Old Skool intergenerational graffiti project, Livingston, in partnership with West Lothian Council, from the Luminate Festival 2013. Image by Eoin Carey.
Luminate was launched 10 years ago to celebrate creativity as we age. From our first Luminate Festival back in 2012, we have showcased the creativity of people of all ages and have consistently shown that age is not a barrier. Over the years we watched our nationwide festival grow in scope and popularity, with artists and audiences from across Scotland and further afield.
We were bowled over by the talent, ambition, and creative drive of older people, but increasingly we also saw that there was a desire for Luminate to be more than a festival. Creative ageing programmes have grown across Scotland in recent years, and our many festival collaborators started to look to us for more. It soon became clear that a different approach was needed.
Wise Guys printmakers at Highland Print Studio, creating Luminate’s 10th anniversary print. Photo courtesy of Highland Print Studio.
Artists who wanted to work in the older people’s care sector, for example, told us that they wanted training. Older emerging professional artists told us that they struggled to find professional development opportunities, especially for those starting their artistic careers or moving into new areas.
We also saw that older people wanted to take part in high quality, artist-led activities all year-round, as they found them both stimulating and inspiring. And there was growing evidence linking creative activities to the inclusion and wellbeing of older people.
The development of what is now widely known as “creative ageing” is an international movement, and cultural organisations worldwide are developing programmes and sharing learning with each other. Bealtaine, the Irish creative ageing festival, was an inspiration for Luminate, and in turn colleagues from Finland launched their festival – Armas – following visits to see Luminate. And we have strong relationships with colleagues in the USA, mainland Europe and Asia.
At Luminate, we believe that everyone has the right to engage in the arts or creative activities regardless of age or circumstance- Anne Gallacher
Creative activities light up lives, and they connect people no matter their age, ability, or experience. Maybe it’s the Wise Guys older printmakers in Inverness coming together at Highland Print Studio to learn a new creative process? Or the development of a sculpture trail at Bishopton that beautifully captures the creativity of older people living in Erskine care homes working with artists Gill White and James Winnett? It could also be the dementia inclusive Shalder Shanty Singers recently set up in Shetland. Whatever it is, we are always inspired by the wide variety of talent we have in Scotland.
As much as we loved our nationwide annual festival, it was clear that demand for our activities extended beyond the festival month and a steadily increasing number of events took place at other times of year. So, in 2019, just before COVID-19 changed the way we all live, we decided to move to a programme that offered year-round support, built around ongoing projects to nurture creative ageing practice across Scotland.
PRIME, semi-professional dance company for dancers over the age of 60, based at Dance Base, Edinburgh. Image by Erika Stevenson.
If anything, lockdown confirmed how hungry people are for creative activities and for the interaction that the arts can bring. We found new ways of working, so that members of our dementia inclusive singing network could still find voice and care homes could still access artist-led activities to bring joy and engagement where the impact of the pandemic was most deeply felt.
For older artists too, lockdown brought great change. As a new ‘normal’ emerges, Luminate is excited to reawaken programmes that feed creative ambitions for older artists, such as our bursary programme or help to develop career paths for artists of all ages to work with older people in care settings or within the community.
Storyteller Jan Bee Brown shares stories from the life of adventurer Isobel Wylie Hutchison, in partnership with the National Library of Scotland. Image by Eoin Carey.
Creativity is boundless and has no age. At Luminate, we believe that everyone has the right to engage in the arts or creative activities regardless of age or circumstance. We also know that this kind of activity contributes to social connection and wellbeing. However, the National Household Survey shows a decrease in the number of people who engage in cultural activities as they age. This can change, and Luminate will be part of this endeavour.
We are helping older artists to keep their careers evolving, as well as using creativity to connect communities, such as our monthly LGBTQI+ socials. And there is also room to celebrate. In November we will be honouring the winners of our Creative Ageing Awards, a fitting tribute to creative heroes across Scotland whose work provides fulfilling, thought provoking and life enhancing inspiration for many older people.
Now we are looking ahead once more, scoping out what we should do next to ensure that creative ageing is part of Scotland’s plan to be one of the best countries in which to live.
