What is The Studio at Beaufort House and how did it come to be?
The Studio is a collaborative art project in Beaufort Nursing Home, Navan. The project has made use of an empty polytunnel at Beaufort House, a residential unit for older persons in Heath, Ireland. This reclaimed space became a place for art making, growing, cooking and eating with residents. Residents, including those living with dementia, can participate 1:1, which allows for the individual to go at their own pace, or in a small-group setting of 3 to 4 residents, which encourages sharing stories and skills of the individuals.
The Studio is a seasonal, outdoor space where residents come to grow, pot seeds, chat, make art, eat, drink cups of tea, offer advice, and share life stories. The Studio uses seasons, cycles, stories, time given to listening, cooking and eating as a method of connection, growing as a means of connection, growth, intergenerational knowledge and the passing on of wisdom. Activities include: clay relief making, painting with berry juices, trimming, propagating plants, smelling, eating, touching, and talking. The activity is responsive to each resident’s ability and tailored to utilize multisensory engagement, such as smelling, touching, and tasting.
Residents are actively involved in the planning and execution of activities, ensuring their interests and abilities shape the project. This choice-based empowerment has fostered ownership and sustained engagement among residents.
What initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
I developed The Studio as a dedicated part of my art practice, which explores working with older people in care settings. I have worked with older persons in collaborative-based projects and residencies. I am interested in how dementia affects the brain, the structure of residential care, and the autonomy of persons who require long-term care. I am interested in plants, growing, ecology, the natural environment and ways of articulating all of this through art. I am interested in working with communities to explore plants, empathy for our natural environment and the human condition. I work site-specific to explore plants as subject matter and a medium to connect with people.
How has working on dementia-related art changed you?
The Studio creates opportunities for social engagement, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness that are common in residential care settings. By involving residents in creative art making, gardening and cooking, I saw how the project nurtures a sense of purpose, accomplishment, and belonging. We use the polytunnel on site at Beaufort to grow, make art and chat. We have created hand-rolled clay plaques, used wildflowers and sage to make prints, and planted pots of potatoes and carrots by seed.
How has the work been received?
The work was positively received by the families of residents and care staff of Beaufort House. The level of conversation and stories shared in the film “Potatoes & Pickles” (a documentary of The Studio from Spring to Autumn 2024) surprised everyone. Regular photos are taken and shared with residents and family members via a monthly news bulletin, keeping everyone up to date with activities.
This work is dedicated to: Mary, Margaret, Rex, and Joe , all of whom have passed away since the project began. Thank you to all the residents of Beaufort House who have participated.
Find more on Joanna Hopkins on her website.
