Dr. Richard Coaten and Maria Pasiecznik Parsons of Creative Dementia Arts Network are embarking on a co-edited Creative Dementia Arts Practice Handbook (Jessica Kingsley Press) for publication in 2023

We need YOU to help us create a really useful resource for creative artists involving all disciplines, health and wellbeing practitioners, arts therapists and others working in the field. In addition to the wide range of skills, knowledge and experience for good practice in using the arts in working with people living with dementia, there are some key elements that matter a great deal. These include making, sustaining and ending relationships, attunement, empathy, non-verbal communications and improvisatory skills and knowledge that promote life-enhancing opportunities. There are many issues that we would like your help in answering, in order to build as clear and contemporary a picture of the field today as we can, and what it needs going forward, filling in the pieces of a puzzle if you like. These include questions such as:

1. SKILLS: What are the core skills for good practice in arts-based work with people living with dementia?

2. TRG & DEVPT: How do creative practitioners and others in the field acquire these skills?

3. LEARNING: What’s been your most important learning experience and why?

4. KNOWLEDGE GAP: What is the knowledge/skills gap you most often experience – and how do you bridge that gap?

5. LEARNING: What advice would you give your beginning practice self?

6. FUTURE: What might the field look in 5 years? What are the trends we must take account of as in a S.W.O.T. analysis (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats)?

Programme

10.30 Welcome from Maria Pasiecznik Parsons and Dr Richard Coaten, CDAN

10.32 Attendee Introductions

10 .42 Dr Richard Coaten: What would you want to find in a really useful handbook of good practice in arts for dementia?

10.50 Roundtable 1

11.15 Break

11.20 Roundtable 2

11.45 Feedback

12.00 Close

Please register and join us for a stimulating session, whether you have just started out or have been working in the field for a long time, we would really like to hear all your voices to make the book the best it can be. Please feel free to pass on to any colleagues who you think may be interested. We look forward to seeing you. We shall send out a Zoom link to everyone who is registered on Friday 13 May and on Monday 16 May @ 18.00 Do register as soon as you can. Many thanks,

Richard & Maria

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