CONNECT+, Edinburgh

SAVE THE DATE!

CONNECT+ and the Epic Awards

1st – 3rd October 2019
Edinburgh, Scotland                          

An intimate international gathering to explore and celebrate creativity in an ageing population combined with a high profile celebration of best practice in the participatory arts.

In partnership with Voluntary Arts and Luminate (Scotland’s Creative Ageing organisation), and supported by Creative Scotland, Amateo is presenting this programme to celebrate creativity, collaboration and the International Day of the Older Person.

Programme

Opening Reception
Tuesday 1st October, 6:30–8:30pm, Institut Français, Parliament Square, Edinburgh
Contact jim@amateo.org for booking.

Celebrating the International Day of the Older Person, this is a chance for guests, delegates and participants to meet informally. There will be food, refreshments and some special guest performers.

Creative Workshops
Tuesday 1st October – Thursday 3rd October, Central Hall, Edinburgh
Contact jim@amateo.org for booking.

An opportunity for a group of 16 older participants from across Europe to come together, work with and learn from each other. The 2.5 day workshop will be facilitated by professional artists (two Scottish-based artists and an international guest). The focus will be on theatre and dance concluding with a sharing of their work and experience at the Epic Awards ceremony being hosted by Voluntary Arts on the evening of Thursday 3rd October. The theme of ‘Don’t Look Back’ arises from a challenge to the practice of focusing on the past when working with older people. What about their interest in the future?
The artist facilitators involved are Janice Parker from Scotland and Tamara Pomoriški from the Czech Republic.

Connect+ Conversations
Tuesday 1st October, 10:00am – 4:00pm, Central Hall, Edinburgh
Book your free place on the Voluntary Arts website.

Practitioners and Amateo member organisations (some will be linked to the member organisations who have come with the creative workshop participants) come together to explore potential collaborations and learn more about the support available for such work. This includes presentations on funding opportunities from Creative Europe and Erasmus+. There will be €2500 available to seed fund proposals that emerge from these discussions.

‘Don’t Look Back’ Seminar and Discussion
Wednesday 2nd October, 10:00am – 4:00pm, InSpace, University of Edinburgh
Book your place on the Voluntary Arts website.

An opportunity to share best practice from across Europe in the field of creativity and participation in an ageing population. A seminar format with four speakers that engage the audience in comment and discussion. The event will also be streamed live. There will be opportunity for informal discussion, canapes and refreshments.

The speakers are:

• Chair, Sylvia Dow, Playwright, with an introduction speaking on her artist’s perspective
• Anne Gallacher, Director, Luminate, Scotland’s Creative Ageing organisation
• Ingrid Smit, LKCA, Netherlands experiences with ‘Long live Arts’ programme
• Janine Hüsch, Kubia, Germany, Centre for Creative Ageing

Epic Awards 2019 ceremony
Thursday 3rd October, 6:30pm, Central Hall, Edinburgh
Book your place on the Voluntary Arts website.

An annual event that celebrates the best in voluntary-led creativity across the UK and Ireland. Taking place in Scotland in 2019, the evening will be hosted by BBC Radio Scotland’s Janice Forsyth and features special performances and presentations from the shortlisted projects and an opening introduction from Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for External Affairs and Culture.

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