Have you been creative in lockdown?

Age UK Lancashire are calling on people to share their inspired ideas and creations to form part of a new funded “The Art of Isolation” exhibition.  The virtual exhibition, which will also be published, aims to create a historical record of how Lancashire’s older residents have responded and adapted to life in lockdown.

The local older peoples charity are asking for anyone over 50 (yes the young ones too!) or their close family or carers to share, photographs (including photographs of art work), writing, audio or film that reflects any aspect of life during isolation. This material will form the basis of the exhibition. Exhibitors will also be asked to undertake a short (5-10 minute) conversation over the phone or online with local storyteller Jacqueline Harris, to talk about the story behind their submission.

Jacqueline Harris said: “Whilst everyone has their own story to tell about this difficult time, personal stories from the older generation are not as widely represented across the media. There are plenty of stories about what isolation and other challenges of lockdown have meant for the older population, but very little in their own words and pictures.  This is an opportunity to share and make visible personal stories and imagery so that these voices are heard and not forgotten.”

The subject matter can be a reflection of any aspect of life during lockdown. It could be discovering new hobbies or rediscovering old ones, reflections on finding new ways to communicate with loved ones, adapting to new circumstances, new conversations, new relationships or new thoughts. These can be captured/recorded in a photograph, a piece of writing, an audio recording or on film. It could be a photograph through glass of a loved one, filming yourself picking your first ever home-grown radishes, a drawing made of a family member, an audio story recorded for children, a poem or a song.

Anne Oliver from Age UK Lancashire said: “As a charity we have been working hard on the front line to support older people during the pandemic and this project gives us the opportunity to showcase the more positive experiences people may have had.  We are so excited to see what people send in and become part of our exhibition.  This is aimed at all abilities.”

The limit on the amount of work that can be submitted in different media is:

Photographs: Up to 6 photographs

Writing: Up to 2000 words

Audio recordings: up to 2 mins recording time

Film: up to 2 mins recording time

People are being asked to send their materials in by the end of August. The exhibition and publication will launch in October.

Submissions can be made to either by email to advice@ageuklancs.org.uk writing Art of Isolation in the subject line, or by sharing on twitter tagging @AgeUKLancashire and using the hashtag #artofisolation