New Old Thirty Thousand Years of Experience: A report of the findings of the Creativity of Older People Projectinitiated by South East Arts and written by
David Sulkin and Katrina Duncan The Arts and Older People: A Practical Introductionby Fi Frances Last year was the United Nations Year of Older Persons, an opportunity to focus on part of the population easily dismissed as irrelevant. But as these two publications show, there is much worthy of re-examination in attitudes & understandings regarding older people. Most of us are aware our population is ageing, and persons in this country are, in the main, living longer and healthier lives. Only a very small percentage fit the stereotypes developed from previous times. And large numbers of older, or nearly older people have an interest in the arts which they demonstrate in a variety of ways - as practitioners, audience, participants. These two publications contribute to debate and challenge conventional wisdom about the actual and potential activities and interests of this 'age group'. The intent of the two publications are radically different from each other. The Arts and Older People is a handbook, discussing context, practicalities, advice and information, with a broad sweep of activity in various settings. The author's approach to the question of context - her analysis of location and her definitions - is refreshingly different from much we read from within the arts milieu. New Old also starts with a discussion of context, and concepts, notions of art and notions of old. Since SEA adopted Creativity of Older People as a strategic priority in 1997, the purposes of the study seem to be to map, partly through sampling self-defined older artists and to assess recent projects and current activity in order to inform policies, priorities and practices in the region. The density of the writing and lack of clear framework and definitions in the SEA report made it a challenging read. The Age Concern publication attempts to serve too many different readers, occasionally slipping into a mode of being patronising. But it is well signposted as to which sections are written for which audiences. Both are worth perusing, particularly for the richness of the case studies. Also, the SEA report draws extensively on empirical evidence from older artists. Timely reminders of artists' ongoing contribution to the artistic and cultural life of the country, and the personal life-enhancing potential of artistic expression and participation. The SEA report comments on the resistance they encountered to the concepts of older people and older artists. As someone over fifty I empathise. Chronological age is not an indicator of people's perceptions of themselves, their behaviour, ambitions and interests. What about Tina Turner's recent 60th birthday party?
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