At the start of May the Dukes hosted a Creative Ageing symposium, ‘Better Than The Alternative’. Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, the 2-day event brought together people from all over the country to celebrate and champion the fantastic work being done with and by older people.  

The packed timetable consisted of workshops, speeches and performances and brought together community partners and creative industry, health and academic professionals. The delegates gained useful insight into the current landscape of the Creative Ageing sector and to learn about and discuss key priorities for the future. 

Our very own Prime Time members helped to host and steward the event, as well as providing some evening entertainment on the first night of the event. They were joined by ExEl Theatre Company (graduates of the Elders scheme at the Royal Exchange in Manchester) and also Act Your Age and Mature Movers (older participants from programmes at Brewery Arts in Kendal) who also provided performances throughout the symposium. 

There was lots of learning to take away from the event.  We received lots of feedback from people who felt a renewed sense of enthusiasm for their work, and had been inspired by the information about a range of other projects and performances.   

Also to round up with a quote from one of the attendees ‘creativity in later life should not be privilege’ and I would add to this, to name-check the symposium - because it is absolutely ‘better than the alternative’. 

Charlie Brown 
Older People’s Coordinator 

For more details about the Prime Time project and the work we do with older people here.

See the highlights of the evening entertainment here: