And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible
A long-term project that honours older people in our communities. Through the sharing of their stories, we create space for new narratives around ageing, isolation and ageism. Our program culminates in community-based large-scale paste-up exhibitions with supportive digital storytelling through our StoryBank.
PROJECT INFORMATION
WHEN
This is an ongoing project. The first round was completed during February-April 2022. Round two commences in April 2022.
WHERE
Round 1 focussed on elders living in a suburb of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. Round 2 delivers a program in Port Stephens and Round 3 is planned for the Central West Region of New South Wales in mid 2022.
WHO
People aged over 70 years living in the community.
WHY
Although we all journey in the same direction, biases about aging persist. As Covid unfolded, we became familiar with ‘self-isolation’ and ‘social-distancing’. For many older community members, the contraction of social connectivity has resulted in ongoing isolation. Rhythms, routines and regular commitments faded quickly. Confined at home, in retirement villages and in care residences, many older people became almost invisible.
HOW
This project uses photo storytelling and cultural preservation practices to develop social and creative connections and experiences with people in the communities who are older or aging.
We initially planned to work with participants through a series of group workshops but the pandemic forced a program redesign. We began to meet safely with individuals one-on-one in their homes and invited them to take part in an immersive experiential program, sharing their stories (audio and written) and creating imagery (on film). The activities facilitate the exploration of identity, relationships (with the self, others, environment or society) and their lived experience.
At the conclusion of the program, we work with participants to create an outdoor group-paste-up exhibition that reflects their story. Together we select a collection of participant and artist-created images to be pasted-up throughout the local neighbourhood.
The project is supported by Octapod, through the Arts Development Small Grant Program (delivered with support of Create NSW), by the City of Newcastle’s Community Support Grants Program, Lake Macquarie City Council’s Creative Industry Seed Grant and crowdfunding.
AND THEN
Through this collaboration we honoured older people. Together we listened, we learned, we co-created and shared stories from this wise, well-lived group within our community. And then, they are no longer invisible.
RELATED LINKS
Experience an immersive telling of
‘And Then, They Were No Longer Invisible’ in StoryBank.
