Artists return to Erskine care homes

Artists Gill White and James Winnett will begin returning to Erskine care homes this week to complete their three-year artist residency Art Adventures in Nature after a 16-month break.

The project offers veterans in Erskine’s four care homes personalised creative activities inspired by the natural environment.

Since 2017 Gill and James had been facilitating creative activities outdoors, including filmmaking, sound recording, storytelling, creative writing, poetry reading, model-making, sculpture, carving and painting. The pandemic stopped activity in March 2020, three months before it was due to be completed.

The high quality art works created by participants have been shared with family, friends and the wider public, and the striking impact on participants’ wellbeing really demonstrated the value of making arts and creativity a day-to-day focus in care homes.

Anne Gallacher, Luminate’s Director, said: “We’re delighted to see the artists begin returning to Erskine care homes. Their engagement with veterans during this stage of the project will of course be very different. There will be much to consider that goes way beyond the new health and safety measures, but we hope the impact for veterans will be just as positive, if not more so. We look forward to sharing how the work progresses.”

Art Adventures in Nature is a partnership between Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation and Erskine Care Homes. It is part of a wider, national programme, Unforgotten Forces, in which 15 different charities have pulled together to provide a network of support for older veterans in the community.