Ethnicity and Unequal Ageing: Sharing Stories for More Inclusive Ageing

December at Buzz Gallery

For the past 8 weeks, working with artists, ROAR and the University of Sheffield, a creative way of sharing experiences of ageing, change, community, belonging and place in Rotherham has been developed in the ROAR space as part of an Economic and Social Research Council funded project.

Participants have worked with ceramic tiles, canvases, photography, and performance, to explore the question:

“What needs to change to make growing older in
Rotherham a more positive experience?”

The findings and sharing from this project are now on show in our Buzz Gallery and we invite you to join us in conversation and explore what it means to age well and grow older in Rotherham.

Participants:

Tom, Sughra, Ellen, Mahmood, Maurice, Mr. Bostan, Jan, Monika, Alzabeta, Olu, Sabine, Zahira, Riaz, Mick, Helena, Milan, Shahnaz

Artists/Collaborators:

Lora- Performance

Using Theatre of the Oppressed techniques, the group created 3 scenes representing challenges based on their lived experiences and offered solutions to mitigate those. The group also did some creative writing following the prompts "I am...I need...I can" some of which can be heard as part of the exhibition.

Anna- Photography

The photography workshop aimed to give power to the participants who would become the picture makers and invite onlookers into their world. The photographers were encouraged to explore three themes, 1) identity – one’s life story, 2) legacy –what I want others to remember about me, 3) the future – what I want to show the decision-makers about my life, my current situation, my health, my worries, my frustration, my environment, my home.

Uzma- Visual Arts

Using mixed media and different art techniques the participants used this workshop to visually reflect the change they want to see on canvases. The inspiration for their artworks came from previous sessions' discussions and their own personal experiences.

Deborah- Ceramics

In this workshop, participants chose a picture that represents a place, person or object that is important to them and their life or identity and worked with the artist to transfer it onto the ceramic which they then decorated.

Matt- ROAR host

Matt looked after the participants and all workshop logistics throughout the programme and has lent his keen curatorial eye, mounting the final exhibition and editing the audio poems that can be listened to in the space.

Research Team:

Rashida, Olga, Lucka, Muetesim, Majella, Lois

Filmmakers:

Sean, Ai