Creative Programs
Creative programs are a fundamental part of the care and support Lutheran Services provides. These programs are central to our vision of supporting those we service to pursue the lives they hope for.
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Sparking engagement
Creative programs are key to building vibrant, well connected communities for our services. Our programs are enthusiastically embraced by our residents, clients, staff and volunteers as well as families and friends.
Our creative programs are enthusiastically embraced by our residents, clients, staff and volunteers, as well as families, friends and the public.
Generously supported by those who fund our work and shape our services, creative programs provide a spark that illuminates everything we do at Lutheran Services.
Benefits of creative programs
If Only I Could…
If Only I Could… is a celebration of the role of dancing and music in the memories and daily lives of Queensland seniors. Aged Care residents were paired up with professional dancers to recall, recreate and relive much-loved dance routines from the past.
Director Angela Chaplin, with Arts Queensland funding and initial collaboration with Ausdance Queensland, developed the project over a two month period. Residents from Immanuel Gardens (Sunshine Coast), St Andrews (Gold Coast), Tabeel (Lockyer Valley) and Zion (Brisbane) Aged Care were keen participants.
Confusion Inclusion
Confusion Inclusion was a magical night of dancing and storytelling presented by performers drawn together from two disability services on opposite sides of the world – our own Keystone Centre in Logan and Popeye from Nagoya in Japan.
A true spirit of inclusion – making the world a more accessible place for all – was at the heart of the event. Confusion Inclusion was a great collaborative effort by people of very different capabilities, from very different places.
The event took its name from the performance by the Popeye troupe. The Japanese dancers called their routine Confusion Inclusion – to foster a philosophy of inclusion, while tackling the challenges and confusion that can be encountered along the way.
Zion Art Show
Each year, the Zion Art Show presents artworks by residents at Zion Aged Care at Nundah, as well as artists from the local community. Held at St Paul’s Church Hall near Zion, the exhibition is open to the public and presented to professional gallery standards.
Most artworks on display are available for purchase and are typically snapped up on opening night. Artworks contributed by Zion residents are the product of ongoing collaborations with art therapists.
The Zion Art Show is always a popular event, with both the contributing artists and the attending public.
The Sound of Symbols
The Sound of Symbols started with a modest goal: to make a performance-worthy production inspired by the interests and talents of aged care and retirement living residents. Respect, friendships and deeper understanding were the outcomes from the three month process, culminating in an on-stage performance attended by more than 150 friends and relatives.
The program was created to celebrate residents’ stories and history through dance, live music, soundscapes, symbols (props) and drama (improvised and scripted). The Sound of Symbols involved an all-ability approach to choreography inspired by Axis Dance Company and explored symbols and props to drive the narrative, expressing the personality and history of a resident.
Pastime Memoirs
Written and presented by the residents of St Paul’s Aged Care in Caboolture, Pastime Memoirs explored the significance of the pastimes, special occasions and memories that define us as individuals and bind us as friends, family and community.
These memories were told through the voices and performances of residents, combined with symbolic stage and sound design.
Pastime Memoirs took shape over several months as St Paul’s residents would regularly get together to playfully explore familiar topics and fond memories. It was all about sharing stories and a laugh.
Reminisce
Reminisce tapped into memories through movement, visual cues, touch, unlocking communication and connecting families with their loved ones who have dementia. The Reminisce program ran over eleven sessions and culminated in a performance of The Red Dress. People living with dementia and their loved ones explored key stages in life. This chronological approach helped participants and families to take a longer view of their lives.
Each of the sessions explored the many different ways people remember. From sounds and touch and visual sense memories, to body memories like dancing and throwing a ball, to emotional memories that bring back times of joy, sadness and love.
Sessions were activity based and used several strategies such as music, photos, sounds, games, objects, craft, dance and storytelling to trigger people’s memories.
Alice in Trinderland
Trinder Park and Aged Care residents drew on the Lewis Carrol classic to celebrate difference and explore the world of people with dementia. Alice in Trinderland was an interactive outdoor performance and picnic involving Trinder Park residents, staff and volunteers, as well as professional performers and local high school students.
An enlightening and accessible cultural experience for all, the production involved theatre, dance, music, costume and games. The presentation was staged as promenade theatre – with audience members coming to the performers – enabling people with mobility issues to be fully involved in the production.
