Art infuses life with creativity, depth and meaning, and builds strong relationships and communities. It can provide a safe space for both personal and political expression where the status quo can be challenged – and where real change can occur. And of course, it can be a lot of fun.

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Through participation and hands-on engagement, in this 3-hour interactive workshop you will:

• learn about performing arts practices with older adults and persons with dementia

• leave with a deep understanding of the immense benefits of this type of creative work on individual, community, and systemic levels

• have a toolkit of transferable arts-based exercises and skills to use in your professional practice and personal life.

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Aynsley Moorhouse (MFA, MSW, RSW) is a Toronto-based artist and social worker. She has presented her work and lectured in university classrooms, hospitals, academic conferences, arts festivals, and on CBC Radio challenging assumptions about aging, specifically regarding memory loss and dementia. Her particular interest lies in how arts practices can lead to personal growth and social change, particularly in the field of gerontology.

Aynsley leads theatre and storytelling groups for older adults and people experiencing memory loss. Her blog (aynsleymoorhouse.com) is a document of her Ontario Arts Council funded theatre program at the Apotex Nursing Home at Baycrest. It is a weekly view into the project as it grew and developed from the first rehearsal in March 2012 to the final performance in August 2012.

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What Previous Workshop Participants Have Said:

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“Benefits of Performing Arts Practices was excellent for group activity.” (Annual NICE Knowledge Exchange workshop participant, May 2014)

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“Aynsley's work is fantastic and needs to be encouraged in all our work in community and institutions and ties in well with keynote address - Let's focus less on disease and more on quality of life.” (Annual NICE Knowledge Exchange workshop participant, May 2014)

 

“Aynsley Moorhouse's presentation was filled with thought provoking, useable information. Very well done!!” (Annual NICE Knowledge Exchange workshop participant, May 2014)

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