Young minds create exhibition of art on dementia

Canvasses and sculptures created by children as they learned about dementia have opened to a new audience.
Malcolm Fallow, chair of East Durham AAP and Rona Hardy, chairman of East Durham AAPs Children and Young Peoples Priority Group, with some of the young people who took part in the art project.Malcolm Fallow, chair of East Durham AAP and Rona Hardy, chairman of East Durham AAPs Children and Young Peoples Priority Group, with some of the young people who took part in the art project.
Malcolm Fallow, chair of East Durham AAP and Rona Hardy, chairman of East Durham AAPs Children and Young Peoples Priority Group, with some of the young people who took part in the art project.

The works have already been on display at various locations around the area but will now be part of a permanent exhibition at Easington Older Persons Community Health Team in

Station Road, Seaham.

One of the pieces in the display by children from East Durham.One of the pieces in the display by children from East Durham.
One of the pieces in the display by children from East Durham.

The initiative was funded by East Durham Area Action Partnership and delivered by Creative Youth Opportunities.

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The pieces include memory catchers and a giant brain created by young people from Dawdon, which represents the struggle of the brain against dementia.

There are also canvasses showing individual responses to how dementia makes people feel and how it impacts on people and their families.

Shealagh Pearce, principal AAP coordinator, said: “Dementia can be a complicated condition to understand, particularly for children and young people.

A piece of artwork created in wool and wood as part of the project.A piece of artwork created in wool and wood as part of the project.
A piece of artwork created in wool and wood as part of the project.

“The art project gave them the opportunity to reflect on how it affects the lives of those who have the condition and also to consider how it makes them feel.

"The final pieces are interesting and often very striking.”

The art project follows two conferences organised by the AAP last year, where children and adults were encouraged to discuss their thoughts on dementia.