Creative Ageing

Aims & Objectives:

We aim to support a diverse range of members' interests, but our main aims are to:

• Share and advocate for high-quality research and best practise in creative ageing.
• Develop and support cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral partnerships.
• Provide a forum for critical evaluation of methodological and theoretical development.
• Represent members' interests in connection to national/international policy initiatives.  

We offer virtual and physical spaces for collaborative critical thinking, grounded in social gerontology. A strong emphasis is also placed on supporting and mentoring emerging researchers in the creative ageing field, through knowledge exchange and research mentoring.

Members:

We have a growing international membership including artists, researchers, health professionals and others interested in the intersection between creativity and ageing.

Steering committee members:  

• Robyn Dowlen- Chair (@RobynDowlen) 
• Emily Bradfield - SIG Founder (@erbradfield)
• Karen Gray- Secretary (@kcrgray)
• Kat Algar-Skaife - Research Representative (@Kat_Algar)
• Vicky Guise - Creative Arts therapies Representative (@vickyguise)
• Rebecka Fleetwood-Smith - Design and Health Representative (@rfleetwoodsmith)

We would like to acknowledge the role that Cathy Baily played in the early development of this SIG. Her mentorship and expertise in creative ageing was invaluable to us as a network of researchers working in this area.

Joining the SIG:

If you would like to be part of the Creative Ageing SIG, please contact our Chair: BSGcreativeSIG@britishgerontology.org

Please also follow us on Twitter @BSGcreativeSIG

Opportunities:

• DISCUSSION GROUPS: We're looking for people to support us in discussing - governance/ethics, events, webinars etc.
• SIG PREPRESENTATIVES: Would you be interested in representing an important area of creativity and/or ageing?
• DIGITAL MEDIA OFFICER: Are you social media savvy? We need someone to support/ develop our digital media. 

If you're interested in any of these activities, please contact Emily Bradfield BSGcreativeSIG@britishgerontology.org.

Events:

• What does it Mean to Age Creatively? (Monday 4 November, Manchester UK)
• Inaugural Symposium - BSG Annual Conference (July 2019, Liverpool UK)