Wiltshire Creative and DANCE SIX-0 are thrilled to be working in partnership with a local charity to host a new Dementia Arts Group at Salisbury Arts Centre from September. Held weekly, the group will be facilitated by professional artists and staff from Beyond Dementia, offering rotating sessions in art, music, dance and a memory café.

Building on the success of other community groups managed by Beyond Dementia in Wiltshire, these new sessions will stimulate, uplift and connect people living with dementia and their carers alike.

Over the past year, Wiltshire Creative has been developing the participatory programme at Salisbury Arts Centre in consultation with the local community. A need for support groups for people living with dementia in reach of the city centre was identified, particularly one that focused on the therapeutic impact of art, music and movement.

Beyond Dementia (formerly Alzheimer's Support) has supported people living with dementia and their family carers in Wiltshire for over three decades. Their expertise and local standing made them the perfect partner to help realise Wiltshire Creative’s ambitions.

Salisbury Arts Centre resident dance company DANCE SIX-0 will also be lending their support – specialising in dance for people over 60, the company already has experience of running dance in dementia-friendly settings.

Beyond Dementia will be supporting Wiltshire Creative in-session during the autumn season and will be offering training to staff and volunteers.

Sarah Gregson, Take Part Director at Wiltshire Creative, said: "Having been part of the Dementia Action alliance here in Salisbury and in Newbury, I am passionate about the benefits for both those living with dementia and their family and carers to come together to focus on something altogether different. I’ve previously worked in care settings and run a memory café in an arts venue, and have seen first-hand that opportunities to create, move, sing, maintain and build social connections is vital for families. It’s predicted that there will be 1.4 million people in the UK living with dementia by 2040 – 8,300 people diagnosed in Wiltshire alone. The creative industry can and should be part of the community that supports them.”

Jonathan Aldridge-Mansfield, Head of Community Services at Beyond Dementia, adds: "We are delighted to be partnering with Wiltshire Creative and Dance Six-0 to develop this exciting new programme for people living with dementia and their carers. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to helping people live well with dementia and remain active members of their community.

By bringing together expertise in dementia support, the arts and creative movement, we can create welcoming opportunities for people living with dementia to take part in these activities in a supportive setting. Creative activity is incredibly important in dementia support because it enables people to focus on their strengths, build confidence, maintain social connections, and experience moments of joy and achievement.”

Rosalind Conlon, Artistic Director and Producer of DANCE Six-0, said: “DANCE Six-0 provides opportunities for older people to remain active and creative with the belief that combining these two things supports physiological and neurological functioning. There is so much well-researched evidence on the benefits of dance for dementia: a non-verbal tool for maintaining expression, function and connection. We are delighted to be able to work with these two experienced partners to offer dance among other creative tools to support those living with dementia and their carers."

It’s hoped that the new group will foster social connections and help people living with dementia communicate, express themselves, and experience joy together through creativity.

The new Dementia Arts Group will run at Salisbury Arts Centre on Mondays from 14 September to 14 December, 10.30am-12noon, £5 per person per session. People living with dementia, their family members, friends and carers are warmly encouraged to attend.