Rewind 1970’s – capturing a generation through the arts

2024 REWIND 1970S WORKSHOPS

On September 23 2024, Arts Uplift and Sonrisa Arts delivered two creative workshops at the Fulbrook Centre, Oxford, as a pilot for Rewind 1970s: a health and heritage project that explores the heritage of 1970s Britain through the arts and reminiscence.

The workshops took place on two wards: City Community Hospital, a rehabilitation ward for older adults, and Sandford Ward, an older adult mental health inpatient ward. Service users from Cherwell Ward (older adult mental health inpatient ward), also joined the workshop on Sandford ward. The workshops were funded by Oxford City Council and supported by Oxford Health Arts Partnership and Arts Uplift.

The workshops were led by two highly experienced artists, a musician, Ant Kimber-McTiffen, and dance practitioner, Kath Kimber-McTiffen, who offered an inclusive, person-centred approach throughout the workshop, spending time talking to patients about their preferences, musical tastes, and memories of the 1970s, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all.

Patients and service users were asked how they felt using the happiness scale before and after the workshops; 100% either felt the same or were happier by the end of the workshop, with 84% suggesting they felt happier than they had been by the end of the workshops. Additionally, national evidence  suggests that creative sessions like music and dance workshops can improve mood and reduce anxiety levels among patients, as well as encouraging increased social interaction and a sense of community within the hospital.

Music has also been shown to have a positive impact on perception of pain and overall well-being, contributing to a holistic approach to patient care. We know from anecdotal evidence from staff that patients request less pain medication when they are engaged in creative sessions.

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Workshop Feedback

Comments from patients and service users	Comments from staff	Comments from artists
” It was just what I needed; I could do it every day.”	“Its been a difficult morning and this has cheered everyone up”	“It was fantastic to see how much recall people had from the 1970’s and hear all their stories and memories”
“This has given me such a boost and cheered up my morning.”	“I needed that, I was stressed”	“Great that staff were so enthusiastic and joined in the workshops, it made the atmosphere with the patients really lively, positive and motivating”
“It reminded me of good memories”

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2023 PROJECT REWIND 1970S

Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Postcode Local Trust and Barchester Charitable Foundation  Arts Uplift and Sonrisa Arts have joined together in an exciting project called ‘Rewind: 1970’s’: capturing a generation through the arts’, a community arts and heritage project in Coventry and Warwickshire.

We have been delivering 6 fun workshops in care homes, dementia cafes and older people’s friendship groups across Coventry and Warwickshire where we used creative dance, movement, music, reminiscence and popular culture from the 1970’s to inspire the participants to tell their personal stories and memories of growing up in the 1970’s. We have then created a dementia friendly scrap book from the memories which is printed and is available in various libraries across Coventry and Warwickshire and also available online HERE Read our evaluation report HERE

 

 

In phase 2 we created a fantastic dance and music show based on these memories and the memories of others groups stories which we performed to the groups that participated with 3 professional artists.

Tuesday 26 September 10.30 am Ettington Lodge 3pm Cedar Lodge care home
Wednesday 27 September 11am Meadow View care home 3pm Galanos House

Tuesday 3 October 10.30am Canley Age Uk Friendship Group 2.30pm Moat House Community Trust Tea&Chat
Wednesday 4 October 10.30am Cubbington Mill care home 3pm Holy Trinity Church, Nuneaton

Rewind: 1970’s

Rewind:1970’s, is inspired by real stories and memories of local Coventry and Warwickshire residents who lived through the 1970’s.  All woven into a highly entertaining dance and music show celebrating the best and the worst of the decade. 

Trailer