Our Place Artist Residency Risby Hall

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1 Our Place Artist Residency provides nursing care for 34 people, aged between 41 and 90 years. There is a mixture of people living with dementia and other physical disabilities. In March 2017, visual artist Kaitlin Ferguson visited Risby Hall to meet the staff, residents, and their families. She wanted to learn about the Hall from them, including what they thought were the best things about it and what they would wish for Risby Hall, in the future. What they told her Staff and residents said that the main entrance through the garden was a bit of a let down and that they d like to see more made of the whole area, including signage. They also wanted to bring the outside in and have more sensory engagement with residents, particularly those with limited mobility. Staff also commented on the limited opportunities available for residents to do work-related activities and that job satisfaction amongst staff often went unexpressed. Creative Outdoors Together with staff at, it was agreed that the brief for the artist residency would be Creative Outdoors - focusing on the garden space as you enter the home. This area is the main view for residents seated in the lounge and it was felt that it could offer more visual stimulation and be a more engaging space for the residents. In May 2017, Arti Prashar of the Spare Tyre Theatre Company, ran a training day for the six artists commissioned to deliver the residencies and the teams of Creative Champions TPiC staff, residents and family members chosen by each care home to support Our Place. The day gave artists and Creative Champions a chance to explore ideas about creativity, personcentred communication and sensory engagement, and was also an opportunity for the Champions to discuss the specific residency brief with the artists engaged to deliver their residency. Artists and Champions The artists engaged to run the residency at were community artist Caitlin Howells, and visual artist Kaitlin Ferguson. Creative Champions were Katie Carter, Noreen Adkin and Steve Hard. Kaitlin and Katie discussing the residency at the training day and, below, Kaitlin and Caitlin deciding what to do with the entrance gate. Keep decorating the whole garden it makes the place look happy and funky.

2 Our Place Artist Residency I d like it transformed into a zen garden, with the pergola decorated and a calm place to sit and the gate painted and welcoming and flowers and colour and music and just a lovely place for our residents and visitors to sit and just be. Katie s wish list what the artists planned The artists visited for a planning meeting with Katie, the engagement coordinator and one of the Creative Champions. They also got to meet Steve, another Champion, who showed them round the whole area. Steve is responsible for general site maintenance, so it was good having him on board, as the artists were busy planning all sorts of changes they wanted to bring to the site. They wanted to provide a series of activities and interventions, to bring residents outside into the garden, and to take elements of the garden indoors to those who were less mobile. Implicit in the plans was to intention to brighten up the whole entrance area, and improve signage. Kaitlin was to stencil the entrance gate, and apply similar stencils to the aviary in the garden, and Caitlin was to lead activities to create decorations for the pergola and a large sign to hang up by the gate. The artists hoped to encourage residents to sow seeds, restock flower beds and generally take part in the gardening work, working with small groups outside. They also devised activities that could be done by residents in their rooms that contributed to the larger pieces, but that also kept the work small and intimate to the individual who made it. As with all the Our Place residencies, the intention was also to create a legacy of confidence and skills amongst staff to support the creative environment at. Day 1: 15 th June getting to know you The artists planned to introduce themselves and run small activities working one-to-one with residents on garden related activities. This would enable them to spend quality time with the residents. In the afternoon they intended to plant seeds, get some residents to make clay beads for decorating the pergola, and visit people in their rooms, to find out what they d like to see out of their windows. Page 2

3 One resident was unsure if she would be able to make the beads: arthritis sometimes made it difficult for her and she told one of the artists that she couldn t do anything with her hands. However, a couple of hours later, she had planted a tray of poppy seeds, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Red s my favourite colour, she said. If we plant them close to Whitsun they should be flowering by August bank holiday. Caitlin and Kaitlin the Our Place artists She also made three pots of beads, chuckling, I didn t think I was artistic. Another resident joined the group outside, together with her daughter and together they made clay butterflies. Afterwards, the daughter told us, We were just going to sit in the garden, but we ve really enjoyed doing this. G. spent the afternoon smiling as we planted loads of trays of plants and vegetables [he spent] his life working on a farm, it s been lovely. Artist observation Page 3

4 Our Place Artist Residency Day 2: 30 th June gates and green hands Kaitlin started to decorate the gate, asking residents and carers to be involved where possible, whilst Caitlin did sensory one-to-one work, making sun-catchers and garden decorations. The idea was to engage staff and build relationships with both staff and residents. Katie helped me to decide to add more blue to my design on the gate it really helped. Artist There was a real buzz about the gate. One staff member was so delighted, she suggested that the whole fence should be painted. There was also a really positive response from J. s son, who loved the art work on the gate. Page 4 The artist, Kaitlin, created a time lapse film of the process, which she took indoors to show the residents but not before she d washed her hands.

5 Meanwhile, Caitlin was busy indoors, working one-to-one with some of the residents who were not able to come outside. Working like this gave artist and resident the time and space to just be together, and to engage in some wonderful conversations. For example, Caitlin gave C. a soothing hand massage, after which they sat together, watching TV for a while, fully relaxed in each other s company. During a conversation with S. he told her delightedly about cuddling his newborn baby niece recently, and the other babies in his family. And there was a lovely, heartfelt conversation with B., about how we should all care for one another and help each other. Caitlin worked with D., helping her create a sun-catcher using her favourite colours of turquoise and purple, whilst her mother sat alongside. It was quiet, prolonged and careful creative work. When they finished, D s mother turned to Caitlin and thanked her for spending time with D. We should all care for one another and help each other. I didn t think I was artistic. Blue and turquoise, yes, they re my favourites. Residents comments Page 5

6 Our Place Artist Residency Day 3: 3 rd July making moulds The artists intended to create a large plaque, to hang on the wall by the main entrance; there were also lots of opportunities for residents and staff to make smaller, personalised casts, with which to decorate the garden. The first job was to line the moulds with clay and then wipe them with a layer of oil, to ease removing the cast once it had set. The artists brought multitudes of small plastic animals, letters with which to spell out words, and other shapes, which the residents chose and then pressed into the damp clay, leaving an imprint of the shape. You re doing a great job here. The next stage was to mix up different pigments with a plaster resin mix, and pour it into the moulds. After which, it was just a matter of waiting for it to dry. Visiting family joined in and the activity was moved around the home, enabling everyone to join in, if they wanted to. Clay has changed a lot since I was at school. Welcome to written backwards, of course Residents comments Pouring in the pigment plaster resin mix, adding different layers Page 6 Family joining in with the pour

7 G. really lit up when we found a sheep toy [for him to use in his mould] as he used to look after sheep. Artist observation Throughout the residency, the artists kept a scrapbook, noting down the different activities and people s responses to them. The following extracts are from the scrapbook entries on that day. D. was really excited about making some more art and the plaster activity brought up some lovely memories for her, when she was talking to her mother. Da. was keen to take part in choosing objects for the sign mould. He joked and smiled and then, looking at A. and her [toy] cats, he chose all three model cats to be pressed in to the mould. Residents got really excited by this activity, directing which colours they wanted to use and sorting out the different shapes. Family and friends joined in and there was a real buzz in the living room, with everyone watching the plaster being poured. Page 7

8 Our Place Artist Residency We re loving the days you re in, it s buzzy, everyone s talking about I and would like to have it al l the time. Day 4: 17 th July favourite gardens This day started with a question for care staff. We asked them to tell us something they loved about gardens: we then asked them to ask the same question of the residents. The answers were to be written on long strips of ribbon and festooned over the pergola. One resident s daughter spoke at length about her mother s garden, telling us how she liked it wild. It was like a meadow, with cornflowers and ox-eye daisies. Mum had fruit trees and every year she d get out her long arms and prune them, didn t you Mum? Another resident commented that what she liked best about a garden was sitting in it, all on her own until other people came along and spoilt it. Oh, they re such lovely colours are you sure I can use them? Staff It was like a meadow, with cornflowers and ox-eye daisies. Family member Ribbons of garden memories for the pergola Meanwhile, J. was going out for an Appointment. This was her first chance to see the gate and she thought it looked wonderful. Ah, she said. It looks lovely, so bright and happy. Page 8

9 Day 5: 17 th July getting ready for the big day The artists started renovating the garden, planting the flowers and beds, and working one-to-one with residents on garden jobs. It was noted during the Discovery Day that residents wanted more opportunities to do work-related activities planting up the flower beds gave several of them a real sense of achievement and they thoroughly enjoyed helping to make their garden look pretty. Whilst Kaitlin was busy planting out, Caitlin set about decorating the arbour, using ribbons, sun-catchers and other decorations created by residents and staff. During the course of the day, several visitors came to the home, including special medical drivers and delivery men. One told Kaitlin to... keep up the good work, you re making it look lovely whilst another said What you re doing will bring joy to people for many years to come. It s so special. Yet another complimented her on the bright colours and instructed Keep decorating the whole garden it makes the place look happy and funky. Everyone loves the gate can t you do the whole fence? Visitor Keep up the good work, you re making it look lovely. Visitor Birds and blooms and a beautiful garden for residents, family and staff at. Page 9

10 Our Place Artist Residency Day 6: 16 th July unveiling the plaques By Day 6 the garden had really come on, with the seedlings doing well, the aviary stencilled with no harmful side effects on the birds and so it was time to see what the plaques look like. They had been drying for some time: now was the moment of truth, as the artists prepared to turn them out of their moulds. Countless family members and staff stopping and admiring the garden feels it validates the work we ve done. Artist observation During the day, as artists and residents worked side-by-side, there was lots of time for some lovely conversations, many of them sparked by the plants and the act of gardening. S. talked about a beautiful local wood near his childhood home that had a sea of bluebells, primroses and cowslips. He then got very excited at the idea of buying bulbs (daffodils, bluebells, primroses, tulips, cowslips) and planting them out in autumn, ready for flowering in spring. I like to be outside, he said. It feels good. Throughout the residency, Katie had kept a special scrapbook, with pictures and poems about the garden and how the artists had inspired and nourished their artistic skills. Other staff were welcome to contribute and not only had they done that, but several had also added items to the actual garden, decorating areas with coloured stones, shells and small models. Page 10 And so the conversations went on. Another member of the engagement team, Hazel, wanted to discuss sensory work and her plans for the garden, how to develop and extend it. Then she made some beautiful butterflies to add to it.

11 Day 7: 5 th August The Grand Family Day & Garden Launch arranges lots of events for residents and families. The 5 th August was one such, and so it was decided to use this opportunity to officially launch the garden. Kaitlin and Candida arrived with trays of flowers and coloured pots: visitors were invited to choose a plant for their relative and write a special message for them. These were then planted out in the raised beds later that afternoon. Adults, children, whole families took part. One visitor was the widow of a previous resident she was so grateful to the home for all the love and care they d shown her husband that she continued to support their activities, although her husband had died some time ago. She chose a plant, wrote a message and we later planted it out for her in the garden at. What you re doing will bring joy to people for many years to come: it s very special. Visitor Page 11

12 The Our Place Story participants Residents 25 Staff 34 Family 42 Total participants 101 Our Place beneficiaries Over the six Partnership in Care homes, the project engaged with 198 residents, 141 staff and 80 relatives and friends, meaning that over 400 people benefitted from Our Place. Our Place was a pilot project, intended to explore an holistic, experimental approach to embedding creative interaction and engagement between staff, residents and families in residential care homes. Suffolk Artlink worked closely with The Partnership in Care to develop and deliver the programme of training and artist residencies. We are indebted to TPiC staff and management for embracing the idea of Our Place, and for all their help, support and enthusiasm during the project. The Our Place model of collaborative artist residencies successfully achieved its aims, in that: - Comments, registers and other evaluation materials evidence increased levels of meaningful engagement between residents, family and staff. The creative interventions impacted positively on the wellbeing of residents and developed confidence and creative skills in care home staff. Artists state that their professional practice was supported and developed The experiences and insights gained during the Our Place project will enable Suffolk Artlink to develop models of best practice for artists working in care settings. Thank you to everyone who made this possible, but most of all, thank you to the staff, residents and families at for sharing their time, interests and affection with us. The arts are an essential part of being human, bringing pleasure, belonging, self-expression and vital skills to our communities. As a participatory arts charity, Suffolk Artlink develops and delivers inclusive arts programmes in communities that bring change to people s lives. Our activities are led by experienced arts practitioners, encompass a rich variety of art forms and are delivered in close partnership with care, education, voluntary and community organisations. Suffolk Artlink, Units 13 & 14, Malt Store Annex, The Cut, 8 New Cut, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 8BY