News

Impact Arts are delighted to be taking part in the Luminate Festival in October with their Craft Café programme. The festival, delivered by Age Scotland with support from Creative Scotland, The Baring Foundation and the Lottery, aims to throw a spotlight on older people as participants and audience members, activities that bring the generations together, work by older professional artists, creative activities with people being cared for in residential homes and in their local community, and work which explores themes around the experience of ageing in its widest sense.

These aims fit perfectly with the ethos of Craft Café, a creative solution to reducing isolation and loneliness amongst older people. The Café offers members aged 50+ a safe, social and creative environment where they can learn new skills and renew social networks.

Craft Café has been operating in Glasgow since 2009 and in Edinburgh since 2012 and has proven extremely popular with members, many of whom credit the Café with enabling them to live more healthy and fulfilled lives:

“This is better than medicine. I’ve had two strokes and this has given me my life back”

Margaret – Craft Café Member

Impact Arts will be delivering two Pop-Up Craft Cafés in Bathgate and Irvine as part of the Luminate Festival. People aged 50+ can join in for the day and work with a professional artist to produce a range of craft items whilst socialising with peers over a cup of tea and a biscuit. One activity on offer will be the opportunity to create a beautiful miniature portrait. There are plans for a national exhibition of Craft Café work which will be showcased in 2013, and visitors to the Pop-Up café will have the option to have their piece included.

Lynne Carr, Chief Executive at Impact Arts said:

‘This is a great opportunity for people to find out first hand why our Craft Cafés are so popular. The tutors are professional artists in their own right and will be able to offer advice and guidance whether you are a novice or an experienced painter or crafts person.’

‘Impact Arts has been working to enable older people to improve their quality of life through the Craft Café programme and we are delighted to be involved with the pioneering Luminate Festival to bring a taste of the Café to more people than ever before.’