RAISING awareness of dementia is the subject of an exhibition making its debut at the City Screen gallery in York before heading all over the country.
"Dementia used to be someone else’s problem," says exhibition organiser Ian Donaghy. "Nowadays it affects all of us in some way either with a family member, friend or neighbour."
The Dear Dementia show is based on the book of that name, written in York by Donaghy, and features 24 thought-provoking illustrated letters written to "Dear Dementia" to motivate, educate, amuse and start a conversation.
Cinema-goers at City Screen viewing the Dear Dementia exhibition
"The opening of the exhibition has coincided with City Screen showing Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, so it's been viewed by lots of cinema-goers," says Ian.
On display too are beautiful photographs of York residents from Grimston Court and Rosevale Care Homes to highlight how invaluable family, music, animals and friendship are when living with dementia.
Sarah Fearn brought a group of women from Rosevale care home in Wigginton to see the show. Among them was Dinah Everard, who features in the exhibition and was thrilled. "Not only did Dinah enjoy the artwork, she loved City Screen, with its wonderful views of the River Ouse, as her group of friends appreciated the array of York’s home-baking," says Ian.
“The response has been very moving. One lady told me that the exhibition summed up her time with her father who had dementia. Many commented what a simple and powerful way this was to get the message across. It was great to be a fly on the wall and see people taking the time to read each one individually and talk to one another. Young staff at the cinema also said they enjoyed the exhibition so much, they had gone on to read the books that were on sale downstairs."
The Dear Dementia exhibition at the City Screen gallery in York
The exhibition has been sponsored by Wellburn Care, York Print Company and Lazenby Visuals of Helmsley, allowing it to make such an impact. "We strive to make City Screen a safe, welcoming place for our older community and those living with dementia to enjoy cinema together," says City Screen associate manager Cath Sharp. "The Dear Dementia exhibition has fitted in perfectly with our Silver Screen Days and Dementia Friendly Screenings; it has had people laughing, crying and most importantly, talking together.”
On Silver Screen Thursday last week, Ian and a group of volunteers staged a Cuppa, Cake and Company, where friends of Wellburn’s Forever Young festival brought in an array of home baking for guests to enjoy.
"The gallery area was filled with friends, families living with dementia, shoppers, business people and those living alone, who all enjoyed the friendly, welcoming atmosphere," says Ian. "The afternoon was so well received, people were asking if we'd be doing this again, so similar events will be running in the lead-up to the Forever Young Music Festival, which will bring generations together in music and dance at Grimston Court on Saturday, September 2."
The exhibition will run at City Screen until April 10 before being moved to York Barbican for the fundraising A Night To Remember concert on April 13, when it could be seen by another 1,500 people. Dear Dementia will then be exhibited in Gateshead, Newcastle, Sunderland and London, and hopefully at Helmsley Arts Centre too.
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