Bridging Generations through Art: Exploring Youth Engagement and Community Participation
By Adil Iqbal
In the Orkney Islands and East Ayrshire, innovative art projects are bridging generational gaps and strengthening community bonds. In Orkney, Emma and John blend jazz and conceptual art, creating immersive experiences that foster dialogue and emotional healing, particularly impactful in dementia care. Their approach promotes inclusivity and intergenerational understanding. In East Ayrshire, Paul and Eileen's project utilizes music and a mobile Tipi to facilitate community dialogue during the pandemic, emphasizing creative expression and emotional sharing. Both projects highlight the power of art in connecting communities and creating lasting legacies across generations.
The Orkney Odyssey: Fostering Community Through Art
"Our journey through the Orkney Islands taught us the beauty of intergenerational harmony. In our sessions, the respect and attentiveness between young and old transcended age differences, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and mutual support." - John and Emma, reflecting on the impactful intergenerational connections fostered in their community sessions.
This journey, orchestrated by artists Emma Ainsley and John Phillips, is not just about creating art—it's about fostering connections, understanding, and healing within a community. Adil Iqbal, the storytelling associate of 'Remembering Together,' delves into their world, revealing a narrative that challenges conventional methods and champions inclusivity.
John, a maestro of jazz and improvisation, and Emma, a mastermind in conceptual art, have combined their talents to create a unique blend of words and music. Their techniques for expression evolved naturally. John, leveraging the power of vulnerability, and Emma, using an 8-minute film showcasing various memorials, sparked imagination and dialogue. This film, featuring diverse creative expressions like dance and music, broadened perspectives.
Emma shares their motivation, driven by a desire to amplify lesser-heard voices. The project, avoiding conventional drop-in sessions, instead integrates into existing community groups. Their approach subverts traditional power dynamics, fostering an unrestricted, inclusive environment. Particularly in Orkney, with its tight-knit community, their sessions blend words and music to spark conversations and creativity.
The jamming sessions aren't just any gatherings; they're a sanctuary for expression, connection, and emotional solace. It served as an organic way to process emotions and foster healing, particularly beneficial for participants with dementia, as it emphasized present-moment connection and communication. This improvisational nature allowed anyone to take the lead, dissolving hierarchical structures and creating a space of creative freedom and mutual respect. Emma noted a significant impact in care homes, where jamming sessions broke down barriers between staff and residents, facilitating easier and more heartfelt communication.
John Phillips and Emma Ainsley
Emma and John engaged older and younger participants in a shared reflection on loss and change. Emphasizing compassion, they fostered understanding across generations. Discussing interactions with younger community members, Emma notes the distinct energy of working with children and teenagers. Engagements ranged from playful drumming with primary school kids to more introspective, gender-influenced sessions with teens. A notable instance was teenage girls developing a complete memorial concept, catalysed by the boys' absence during a football game. A standout moment for John and Emma was the mutual respect and attentiveness between older and younger participants, transcending age differences. Both groups actively listened to each other and collaboratively assisted one another, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
This emphasis on intergenerational respect was mirrored in the broader community's approach to memorialization. Rather than a static concrete monument, there was a preference for a versatile memorial space that facilitated both personal reflection and community engagement. In Kirkwall, there was a specific interest in representing the diverse voices from across the Orkney Islands, reflecting the region's strong, unified identity amidst diverse individual backgrounds. These experiences underscore the diverse perspectives and dynamics youth bring to community art.
The program expanded their Orkney network. As practitioners, they benefitted from community members sharing contacts and insights. Their established presence in Orkney and experience with care homes further solidified their local connections.
"Looking ahead, we're excited to develop community spaces that not only support people but also encourage the exploration of the physicality and sensory aspects of creativity. This journey has broadened our horizons, challenging us to embrace more structured, yet equally impactful, approaches to community engagement." - Emma and John, expressing their enthusiasm for future projects and the evolution of their creative methods.
Emma and John are excited about the future, particularly in developing community spaces that continue to support and connect people. They are exploring new, sensory approaches to creativity, influenced by the success of the Remembering Together program. This initiative not only expanded their methods and perspectives but also enabled extensive connections across the islands. John highlighted the effectiveness of “pentatonic jam” sessions in building confidence and unity among different community groups.
East Ayrshire's Creative Connection
"The pandemic disrupted my music, but co-creating with schools and communities reconnected me. It was more than an opportunity; it was a way to intertwine our stories through art." - Paul, reflecting on the impact of the pandemic on his music career and the significance of his community project.
Paul, inspired by the idea of a memorial, sought to capture and unite people's stories through co-creation with schools and communities. He introduced music subtly into the project, gradually encouraging collective music sessions to spur conversations among participants. This approach not only facilitated creative expression but also helped participants step outside their comfort zones. The project included music-making sessions, where simple techniques were introduced to participants of all ages, fostering intergenerational interaction through the universality of music. A film documenting these interactions was created to capture this unique community engagement and to serve as a living history.
East Ayrshire Phase 1 workshop
Working in collaboration with the East Ayrshire Council, Paul and Eileen selected five schools from diverse areas to ensure a wide range of voices. They engaged not only with students but also with teachers and parents. Despite challenges like reluctance to discuss COVID-19 and initial resistance from some schools, their persistence paid off. They found that music and the unique environment of a Tipi, a mobile tent with ancient roots, helped break down barriers, allowing people to share their experiences and emotions openly.
One particularly poignant moment occurred at a primary school, where a member of staff shared their cancer diagnosis, illustrating the Tipi's effectiveness in creating a safe space for emotional expression. Paul chose the Tipi for its outdoor setting, necessary during the pandemic, and its capacity to foster a relaxing atmosphere conducive to music and dialogue.
"Our project pushed us beyond our comfort zones, blending subtle music with open conversation. It was a journey of creative freedom, embracing the good, bad, and ugly of our shared experiences." - Eileen, discussing the challenges and rewards of their innovative approach to community engagement through art and music.
The project also focused on moving forward from the pandemic rather than dwelling on past hardships. Schools, identified as community hubs, became central to this outreach. Paul and Eileen's strategy involved working with groups open to their innovative approach, maximizing their impact.
An interesting aspect was the idea of a "living interactive COVID memorial," inspired by a young participant's suggestion of a time machine. This concept aimed to create lasting memories and intergenerational connections, especially between children, parents, and grandparents.
Eileen emphasized the importance of recording these sessions to create a lasting legacy. Paul, adapting his role from artist to facilitator, focused on enabling others to express themselves, a challenging but rewarding shift from his usual role.
Eileen discussed the emotional power of film, the challenges of filmmaking decisions and the importance of inclusivity, all of which shape Eileen's approach to representing all voices in phase 2.
Both in the Orkney Islands and East Ayrshire, these projects exemplify the transformative power of art in bridging generational gaps and fostering a sense of community and shared understanding.