What is Arts at Home?

“The sessions bring people together to share ideas, promote discussion and learning. Residents continue to discuss the artworks long after the session has ended and look forward to the talks and social aspect.” - Care Home Manager

Arts at Home helps the residents of older adult care settings to access arts and culture. Our dedicated team of trained volunteersintroduce artworks of their choosing with open-ended questions and thought-provoking prompts intended to spark conversation and encourage connection, whilst combatting loneliness and social isolation.

Engaging with arts activities increases confidence and improves self-esteem, and for older adults living with dementia, participatory art can help improve cognitive functioning, communication, pleasure, enjoyment of life, memory and creative thinking - (Baring Foundation, 2011).

“The residents have benefitted from looking and thinking more closely at artwork. (…) The project has helped to give space for the residents to openly discuss how images make them feel and their own memories.” - Care Assistant

Interested in volunteering?

In these sessions, you will introduce works of art of your choice. No prior professional experience is needed; we will provide you with the necessary training and toolkit to deliver this programme.

Arts at Home is delivered in care settings across London. You will need to be able to travel to these locations (travel within London can be expensed).

By joining the Arts at Home programme, you will:

• Attend an induction and receive a toolkit curated by an arts education specialist;
• Make a difference to the lives of older people in care settings;
• Develop skills in public speaking and communicating with different audiences;
• Broaden your knowledge of art history;
• Join a brilliant community of likeminded people!

If you are a confident communicator and passionate about the arts, we would love to hear from you!

Deadline: Ongoing. Volunteer inductions are held monthly.

Have any queries? Please e-mail volunteers@artexplora.org

Interested in partnering?

We currently work with seven care homes across London and are always looking to expand our programme, both across London and nationally.

If you'd like to bring art into your retirement home with Arts at Home, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact our Community Programme Manager, Steph O'Neill (stephanie.oneill@artexplora.org)