2011

Sandwell ArtsFestival- STAA is proud to be working with its partners to help bring Sandwell Arts Festival to the borough for its second year. For a guide to the events taking place over the fortnight click here.

STAA's Art Exhibition in Queen's Square shopping Centre, West Bromwich 1st February-31st March 2011.

This exhibition showcased artwork made by elders who participate in STAA's programmes of creative activities plus work made by some of STAA's artists.

2010

Sandwell Arts Festival 2010: "Al Bowlly's Croon Manifesto".

STAA, along with Black Country Touring and Sandwell MBC's Creative Arts Unit & Performing Arts Group "rolled up the carpet and pushed back the chairs for a rip roaring event with music, theatre and dance". The performance by Untied Artists with music from the Gramaphone Party celebrated the life of Al Bowlly, one of Britain's greatest singers of the 1930s dance band era. Afterwards the audience were invited to take part in a tea dance. It all happened at West Bromwich Town Hall on 14th and 15th July.

STAA commissioned ‘Dancing Dawn Parker’ one of the UK’s leading Latin & Ballroom teachers to deliver 20 tea dances at Fountain court and Grafton Lodge for elders with mental health needs in preparation for the performances.

2009

STAA is included in the Baring Foundation’s new publication about Arts and Older People in the UK

The Baring Foundation was set up in 1969 to improve the quality of life of people suffering disadvantage and discrimination through making grants to strengthen organisations doing this work. In September 2009 they published Aging Artfully: Older People and Professional Participatory Arts in the UK. In this comprehensive review of the arts activity that is taking place in the UK STAA is mentioned on page 9 and appears in more detail on p37-38.

STAA artwork used by Nuffield Council on Bioethics for its Dementia: Ethical Issues Consultation paper (2008) and report (2009)

Artwork created in STAA sessions has been selected to illustrate an important consultation and report on the ethical Issues surrounding dementia. The cover image was ‘An explosion of colour’ by Gwen Finney. An article about the consultation with the image appeared in Journal of Dementia Care Vol16 No 4 July/August 2008 p11.

STAA’s Summer Ball Success 1st July 2009

STAA hosted its very successful ‘Summer Ball’ Tea Dance on 1st July 2009 at West Bromwich Town Hall. We had 169 people attending. The event was designed to allow elders with mental health needs to experience a tea dance and mix with elders from mainstream clubs and groups in a friendly get together. It was hosted by Dawn Parker, STAA’s resident dancer and one of the UK’s leading Latin & Ballroom teachers. Organist Keith Tomlin played live music for the dances.

STAA appears in The King’s Fund Enhancing the Healing Environment Publication.

STAA’s Co-ordinator Sharon Baker appears in a Department of Health Publication: “The Kings Fund Enhancing the Healing Environment Programme” along with her colleagues at Sandwell Mental Health and Social Care NHS Trust (now a Foundation Trust) to celebrate their work to resign Edward Street’s ‘Relaxation’ Garden. The hospital took part in the Kings Fund’s ‘Enhancing the Healing Environment’ Project. Sharon was asked to join the team to work on the project. The book which celebrates the work of all the NHS trusts involved was published in May 2008. 

2008

Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson hails STAA as a 'lifeline'

In a keynote speech at a national launch of a training package to boost access to museums and art galleries 'Open to All' on 16th September Mr Johnson said: "For those facing acute difficulties, such services can be a lifeline, like Sandwell Third Age Arts, which provides group and individual arts-based activities for older people suffering from a range of mental health problems and dementia." The speech highlights the links between arts participation and health. Click to read speech

News about STAA’s DVD in Journal of Dementia Care p33 of Volume 16 No 1 January/February 2008 click to see article

2007
STAA launches its DVD ‘Fountain’s Jolly Inn: The making of a pub-themed area inside a residential home for older people with mental health needs.’

If you want to order a copy it is and is free of charge contact STAA– or download/watch the DVD here.

STAA is featured as an example of good practice in Age Concern’s second published report from the UK enquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life “Improving services and support for older people with mental health problems”.

STAA appears on p59 as ‘tackling depression through the arts’. ISBN: 978-1-903629-49-9.

STAA receives a ‘Shining Stars Award’ from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Adult and Community Services.

STAA was runner up in the category ‘Most Innovative Project’ for its pub project at Fountain Court STAA funded this project jointly with Fountain Court and Creative Arts Unit and shared the award with them.

Launch of Edward Street Hospital’s ‘Relaxation Garden’ in July.

STAA’s Co-ordinator, Sharon Baker, was involved in the project management of a new garden for older people with mental health needs at Edward Street Hospital. She was one of the King’s Fund’s ‘Enhancing the Healing Environment’ team with other members from Sandwell Mental Health NHS and Social Care Trust.

Sharon Baker writes all about the Fountain Jolly Inn Pub Project in ‘Mental Health Today’ .It appeared in the June 2007 edition of the magazine. Download the article here.

Mental Health Today is published by Pavilion, Richmond House, Richmond Rd Brighton, East Sussex BN2 3RL

STAA holds its Spring Celebrations Art Exhibition at Haden Hill House, Cradley Heath, West Midlands, May 2007. See photographs of the exhibiton on STAA's gallery page.

STAA wins poster competition.

STAA was a poster prize winner in the category of ‘Best Presented Poster Display’ at West Midlands Public Health Observatory’s Excellence Conference in May 2007.

STAA is featured in the newly published ‘Prospectus for Arts and Health’ from Arts Council England and the Department of Health.

STAA appears in section 4 of the prospectus: The Arts and Health in Action under the subheading of ‘older people’ p79-80. STAA is included as an example of good practice. ISBN: 978-0-7287-1339-0 the prospectus can be downloaded from Arts Council England’s website.

‘Pub Project Proves a Pull for Residents’.

The Fountain Jolly Inn Pub is featured in the Volume 15 No 2 March/April edition of Journal of Dementia Care on page 7.
Read the article here.

STAA hosts its March ‘Spring Celebrations’ Tea Dance at West Bromwich Town Hall.
See the poster for the event here. See photographs of the tea dance on STAA’s gallery page. 

‘Reminiscence Pub is a jolly good Idea’

The Fountain Jolly Inn pub is featured in the March 2007 edition of the Caring times appearing on page 10. Published by Hawker Publications, Culvert House, Culvert Road, Battersea London Sw11 5DH.
Read the article here

Artwork by STAA’s participants featured in the Journal of Dementia Care’s Creativity in Dementia Care Calendar 2007.

Projects included ‘Bringing the Garden Inside’ banner made by people attending John Dando Day Centre in Great Barr and painting and metalwork by people attending Hillcrest Day Hospital in Smethwick feature in the introduction and in the months of May, August and October.

2006
Journal of Dementia Care Volume 14 number 6 November/December 2006 showcases the artwork and organisations including STAA that feature in its 2007 calendar. P26-27.

‘Happy Days: you are never too old or too ill to have fun’.

An Article about STAA in ‘Mental Health Today’ in the May 2006 edition P14-15. The magazine featured STAA as a result of STAA’s positive practice award in for its work.
Read the article here.

An article about STAA’s pilot music project with people on long stay wards at Edward Street Hospital features on p14-15 of Journal of Dementia Care Vol 14 Number 1 January/February 2006.

STAA shared our findings about what is revealed when an observer records the sessions in detail. On page 16 of the same publication STAA’s project ‘Making resources to help Reminiscence‘ is featured where artists worked with residents and care givers at to make lasting mementoes that could be included in memory boxes.
Read the Music Project article here
Read the Memory Box article here

2005
STAA wins NIMHE Positive practice award.

The National Institute for Mental Health in England is in its third year of running its positive practice awards and this year STAA won the award for the ‘Older People and Mental Health’ category. In granting the award NIMHE recognised the preventative benefits of STAA’s work as well as it being a tool to help maintain a person’s mental health, promote well- being and improve self esteem. A news item about STAA’s success appeared on page 8 of the Volume 14 No 1 January/February edition of the Journal of Dementia Care.
Read the article here

STAA held an Art Exhibition at Edward Street Hospital in West Bromwich in October.

The exhibition showcased the work that STAA has facilitated by hospital service users and carers in group projects and sessions with individuals. The exhibition celebrated the partnership working between STAA and Sandwell Mental Health NHS and Social Care Trust. A news item about the exhibition appeared on page 7 of the November/December 2005 edition of Journal of Dementia care Vol 13 Number 6.

2004.
STAA appears on the front cover of the ‘Journal of Dementia Care’ Volume 12 Number 6 November/December 2004. Information about STAA also appears on Page 21.

Sharon Baker wrote an article about STAA in the magazine ‘Signpost to Older People and Mental Health Matters’ Volume 8, Number 3, February 2004 page 23-25.  Published by the Practice Development Unit (MHSOP) of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust in association with DementiaServices Development Centre, Wales.

2002
STAA’s “Art for the person’s sake” Video is published by Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre 2002.

It shows STAA’s artists working with individuals with dementia and groups of people. The video is an introduction to using the arts with people with dementia, it has no commentary but the work speaks for itself. The purpose is to suggest possibilities and give the ‘feel’ of what interactions are like. If you are interested in watching the video it can be ordered from STAA.