Bringing Creative Age to Tewkesbury

We were delighted to be invited by the Roses Theatre to bring our Creative Age, dementia‑friendly programme to Tewkesbury.

Thanks to a Community Wellbeing grant from NHS Gloucestershire ICB, the Roses partnered with Open Arms Artists’ Collective to test and adapt the Creative Age model — an approach that has evolved organically over eight years of work in Cheltenham. Built on the shared vision and experience of our co‑founders, Louise and Lisa and developed alongside partners including Bethesda Church and NHS Managing Memory Together, the model centres around creativity, care and connection.

A New Partnership, A Shared Purpose

The aim of this partnership was simple but powerful:
Could the Creative Age model be adapted to meet the needs of communities in Tewkesbury?

Following a period of research and consultation, the Roses and Open Arms piloted monthly, then fortnightly creative sessions, supporting people affected by dementia and those experiencing social isolation.

Through this collaboration:

• The Roses were able to expand their current Creative Health offer, building on existing work such as the Memory Café, Sing for Health & Wellbeing, and Dementia‑Friendly Film Screenings

• Open Arms gained the time, space and support to test a proof of concept in a safe, collaborative environment

What we aimed to do

Together, the partnership focused on:
• Reaching more people in welcoming, community‑based spaces
• Developing a stable, responsive delivery model shaped by local need
• Strengthening sustainable and scalable partnership working
• Sharing resources, artist networks and evaluation tools
• Embedding inclusive, dementia‑aware creative practice
• Building longer‑term capacity for staff, volunteers and organisations

Learning, Growth and Creative Connection

Over nine sessions, we engaged nine new artists, many of whom were based in Tewkesbury — something we’re incredibly proud of. Six of these artists had the opportunity to take part in paid shadowing opportunities with Creative Age in Cheltenham, and eight attended a combined Artists’ Peer Exchange Session, creating meaningful space to learn alongside peers.

Artists shared the value of “Meeting new artists and deepening connections with other known artists. Sharing experiences and sparking off each other”.

“It was nourishing, collaborative, inspiring, imaginative, welcoming. It felt that we were all valued as artists in our own practices”.

The sessions themselves were full of fun, smiles and laughter. Each session was unique and informed by the needs and interests of the participants, alongside the history, culture and natural environment, using music, visual arts, movement and story making. All making connections in unexpected ways, and giving people the confidence to join in, be playful and joyful.

What we’re taking forward

Although the pilot came to an end in March 2026, the learning has been invaluable. For Open Arms, this experience has strengthened our confidence in the Creative Age approach and encouraged us to explore new partnerships across the county.

For the Roses, co‑delivering Creative Age brought rich learning for staff and volunteers, and highlighted the power of flexible, person‑centred and creative work with people living with dementia and their carers — supported by artists who were truly placed at the heart of the project.

Thank you to everyone involved for their care, creativity, patience and commitment. This partnership has shown what’s possible when organisations come together with shared values, trust and a belief in the power of creativity to connect.

Artists peer exchange session