On October the 5th, we held our second Ideas and Innovation Workshop at the Friends’ Meeting House in Manchester, focussing this time on arts, sport and culture. Bringing together people living with dementia, care partners, creative professionals, technologists, and researchers, the day focused on a powerful theme: how arts, culture, sport, and technology can combine to support everyday independence.

Click the arrows below to see the activities and output from the workshop.

The atmosphere throughout the day was warm, interactive, and deeply creative. Guided by a shared commitment to person-centered co-design, participants worked collaboratively across hands-on activities, practical design sessions, and focused table discussions.

To start the day with some networking and inspire creativity, participants took part in a partnered portrait drawing activity. Following this, they participated in a range of interactive activities throughout the day.

• Following a creative prompt and being presented with a range of radios from different decades, attendees engaged in discussions about what they found significant about everyday technology, and how this could be made more accommodating for them.
• The next activity gave attendees the opportunity to create a prototype of on and off switch they felt worked best for them, using a range of materials. Designing sketches and plasticine models, people with lived experience were encouraged to share their perspective and which interactions were most accessible.
• In the afternoon, attendees were invited to choose one of the three topics - art, sport and culture - and discuss their roles in fostering identity and independence. 
• After watching a video exploring how technology can be used to support engagement with art, sport and culture, attendees led discussions on how technology can empower people living with dementia.

Every sketch, prototype, and idea generated during these activities was added to our central Ideas Board, capturing a rich collection of community-driven insight and inspiration. 

BRIDGES Network+ would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who joined us in Manchester and shared their insights, creativity, and lived experience to make the day a success. To find out about any more upcoming events, visit our Events page.

Upcoming Funding Call: Supporting Arts, Sport, and Culture

To help turn the ideas generated at this workshop into practical solutions, the BRIDGES Network+ will be opening its next funding call soon. All developments will be posted on our Funding Opportunities page. We look forward to seeing your applications!