What we did – how it all started
Alzheimer Society of Ireland Manager of Rose Cottage Mary Mooney and artist Olivia Hasett put together numerous proposals seeking funding to research and develop art and dementia projects for the clients of ASI.
Funding secured for three projects:
To date they have been successful in being awarded firstly funding from the Adelaide Health Foundation (AHF) through the Community Health Initiative Scheme 2019 to develop eight Co-creation workshops and an exhibition of the artistic outcomes in Rose Cottage.
Following on from this the Arts Council of Ireland awarded them an Artist in the Community Scheme Research and Development with mentorship award 2019 to delve deeper into the Co-creation research and to investigate the potential to develop an Art and Dementia Co-creation project.
Most recently Mary Bardin (South Eastern Opperations Manager of the ASI) and Olivia Hassett were delighted to be funded again by the (AHF) to develop a series of eight ART@home art packs for a group of ASI clients. These art packs included good quality art materials and a booklet to guide the clients and their carers while they worked on the specially designed projects in the comfort of their own homes.
This blog maps the process of these three exciting projects
About the people
Olivia Hassett
I was born and continue to live in Dublin. Over the past number of years I have facilitated weekly group art workshops in the age related ward of Tallaght University Hospital as well as art working one on one with patients in the general wards. In the past year I have developed a series of specific workshops aimed at the staff in TUH. I was also lead artist on the ‘Make your Mark’ exhibition of artworks created by staff and patients of TUH in 2019.
My work in Tallaght University Hospital and interest in exploring the human body through live improvisational artworks has led me to seek out opportunities to further explore the potential of art working with older people. In the past two years my research has led me to explore ideas of co-creation/ art making with those living with a dementia. I have worked closely with the staff of Rose Cottage and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland over this period of time. In 2019/ 20 I was funded by the Adalaide Health Foundation (AHF) to research and developed a series of eight co-creation workshop, where I worked alongside a group of clients from Rose Cottage, an ASI dementia day care centre. Project1 is outlined in this blog. In the same year I was funded by the Arts
Council of Ireland (via CREATE) to deepen this research and explore the possibility of developing a substantial arts and dementia art project. Project2 is outlined in this blog.
Most recently I was very lucky to again be funded by the AHF to respond to the COVID 19 restriction on ASI services to develop a series of dementia friendly art packs that could be delivered to the homes of ASI clients in the Tallaght region. Project3 is outlined in this blog.
I am also inaugural artist in residence in the Engineering Department of Trinity College Dublin since 2014. During this time I have collaborated with various staff members and exhibited in three exhibitions on campus trinitycollegetrees.wordpress.com.
My visual art practice is concerned with the human body, its fragility and the beauty of its inner workings. In the past I have created numerous brightly coloured fabric sculptures and immersive installations reflecting these interests. Another aspect of my practice is the development of live performative works either solo or collaboratively with other artists.
For more information on my visual and performance art practice please click here.
Rose Cottage
Rose Cottage dementia day care resource centre in Tymon North Place, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Run by the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland
Rose Cottage mission statement:
“To provide support and empowerment to persons with dementia and to offer guidance and advice to families.”
Embedded in the Tallaght Community for the past ten years Rose Cottage is a day care center that provides dementia specific, person centered care to meet the individual needs of each client living with a dementia.
Situated in a refurbished cottage it offers a warm, welcoming and safe environment while providing support and stimulation to it’s clients. A wide range of activities are on offer including reminiscence therapy, music sessions, gentle exercises and personal care.It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Art and Dementia projects 