Scottish Dementia Arts Festival 2024 Edinburgh
11th - 14th November 2024
The Deepness Dementia Arts Festival in Edinburgh was a week-long festival in the heart of the city and the surrounding areas, showcasing the very best that dementia-diagnosed creatives have to offer. There's a stigma surrounding dementia – that those who have it are somehow less capable, less able and incapable of retaining their autonomy – not true! There is so much passion, beauty and vision in the dementia community and this festival brings it all together in a real celebration that you won't want to miss. Flyer
About the Scottish Dementia Arts Festival 2024
The festival took place across three central Edinburgh venues:
- Assembly Roxy - 2 Roxburgh Place, EH8 9SU
- Nicholson Square Edinburgh - 25 Nicolson Square, EH8 9BX
- Augustine United Chuch - 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 9EL
Planning Support for Attendees
Full Programme
Monday 11th November
4.30pm - Assembly Roxy Theatre - HOUSE/BAR OPENS with the Forget Me Notes Project Choir
5.15pm - Festival Opening Reception with Scottish First Minister's Welcome followed by Ron Coleman and Jane
Followed by Meeting Centre Banner Parade with intro from Graham Galloway
6.15pm - Sophie Bancroft sings Mother Blackbird and a talk
7.00pm - yesteryear dance theatre performance choregraphed by Evelina Sjödin Bergström, music by Emily Frances Ippolito
8.00pm - Post show discussion and Q&A – Ron Coleman and Company
8.45pm - Networking and catch up, bar remains open
10.00pm - Welcome reception finishes, all depart
Tuesday 12th November
Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge
9.30am - Registration/teas and coffees for The Dementia 100/6000 Gathering for people with dementia (limited space for care partners but a 'Look after yourself' workshop will also take place in the same venue if you prefer to stay in the venue)
10.00 - 4.00pm - The Gathering starts (please note - no professionals unless required in supporting a person living with dementia to attend). Care partners encouraged to join 'Caring for Yourself' sessions with Karen Taylor Coleman in the same venue whilst The Gathering will takes place at 10am-12pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm. Lunch served at 12.30pm.
12.30pm - 4.30pm - The Festival Hub opens at 25 Nicholson Square Edinburgh with:
- Tea, coffee and biscuits cafe and catch up (note this will be a cash only facility) Quiet Room available.
- Sign up for Workshops at welcome desk and collect local cafe discount card here.
- Arts Exhibition on 1st Floor Leith Room
- Deepness Dementia Radio Station sessions here
1.00pm - 5.00pm - Dementia Film Screenings at Assembly Roxy Theatre
7.00pm - Assembly Roxy Theatre - HOUSE / BAR opens
7.30pm - STAND music Gig with Gus Harrower and Friends
8.30pm - Open Mic Session for anyone who wishes to share their creative talents - music, singing, poetry readings, dance, etc...
10.00pm - Evening Finishes
Wednesday 13th November
Assembly Roxy
10.00 - 12.00pm - Meeting Centres Scotland film launch and Meeting Centres Scotland AGM with Graham Galloway and team (all are invited who are interested in finding out more about Meeting Centres)
12.00pm to 1.00pm - Caught in This Moment in Time film launch by Deepness Dementia Media followed by Q&A with Ron Coleman
Festival Hub - 25 Nicholson Square
11.00pm - 4.30pm
- Cafe serving tea, coffee and biscuits (note: this is a cash-only facility) Quiet Room available
- Sign up for workshops at welcome desk and collect local café discount card here
- Arts Exhibition on 1st Floor Leith Room
- Deepness Dementia Radio station and Playlist For Life sound booth sessions here
- Literary Corner readings and Q&A
- 2.00pm – In the Palm of a Spider's Hand by Gerry King, hosted by Willy Gilder
- 3.00pm – My Wonky Brain by Willy Gilder, Valeria Lembo and Alex Howard
10.00am - 4.30pm
Workshops at St Augustine Church (sign up for these at the Festival Hub)
- 10.00am, Workshop 1: Clowning with Magdalena Schamberger
- 11.00am, Workshop 2: Portraiture with Willy Gilder (feel free to bring own sketch pad, pencils/pens)
- 11.50am, Workshop 3: Singing with The Forget Me Notes Project
- 12.40pm, Workshop 4: The Sea and I with Independent Arts Projects
- 1.30pm, Workshop 5: A Box of Smiles with Ronald Amanze and Jim Campbell
- 2.30pm - 4.30pm, Workshop 6: Jazz singing and vocals with Sophie Bancroft and Tom Lyne
7.00pm - Assembly Roxy Theatre - HOUSE / BAR opens
7.30pm - Caught In This Moment of Time by Ron Coleman - A reworked performance of the play with a a new act and performers. Followed by post show talk.
10.00pm - Evening Finishes, all depart
Thursday 14th November
Festival Hub, 25 Nicholson Square
10.00am - 4.30pm
- Tea, coffee and biscuits café and catch up (note this will be a cash only facility) Quiet Room available
- Collect local café discount card here
- Arts Exhibition on 1st Floor Leith Room
- Deepness Dementia Radio station and Playlist For Life Sound Booth sessions here
- From 11.00am Join Maxine and colleagues from Alzheimer's Society for an informal drop-in style interactive workshop aimed at gathering the voices of people living with dementia
Assembly Roxy
11.30am - Weekday Wow Daytime Disco 1 (for invited care settings and anyone up for a pre-afternoon energiser)
2.00pm - McScrooge by Alan Mountford and Citadel Arts Group - A relaxed Scottish pantomime that has engaged a group of creative consultants living with dementia (Willy Gilder, Agnes Houston, Howard Gordon and Ron Coleman) on dementia responsive theatre principles. Followed by a company Meet and Greet and Q&A
3.30pm - Intergenerational Singing Workshop with Ace Voices including young people from Heathryburn Primary School and Kingswood Day Centre in Aberdeen
6.00pm - Assembly Roxy Theatre - HOUSE/BAR Opens
Dementia Arts Festival Closing Reception starts with Weekday Wow Factor Evening Disco 2
7.00pm - The Roddy Gordon Band
8.30pm - Dementia the Musical Soundtrack gig with Sophie Bancroft and friends. Ceilidh with Lewis Hou from Science Ceilidh.
10.30pm - Festival Ends
