Join Literature Wales at the Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre for a bilingual day of discussion and presentations by experts in the field of arts for health and wellbeing. It will be an opportunity to listen and learn in the company of guest speakers from many different art disciplines who specialize in working with people living with dementia. There will also be plenty of opportunity to discuss and deliberate over lunch.

Speakers will include John Killick who has been writing poetry with people with dementia for 24 years, with eight books of poetry emerging from this work and six books on communication and creativity in dementia.

Beti George, a BBC Radio Cymru presenter and a tireless campaigner for better care for people living with dementia who will also share her experiences following the broadcasting of her BBC documentary in 2017 exploring her life caring for her partner, Beti and David: Lost for Words.

Poet and dramatist Patrick Jones will join us to share his experiences of unleashing stories, memories and poems for those living with dementia. He is the author of Before I Leave, a National Theatre Wales production about a choir for people living with dementia – based on real stories. The production will soon be adapted to film.

Gwion Hallam will also discuss his work in care homes, and will talk about the creative impact the work has had on his own writing as a poet.

Representatives from the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends will also be present to run a session to help us expand our understanding and knowledge of living with the condition.

More speakers, a detailed timetable and more information about the individual sessions will be announced in the next few days.

The journey to organise this conference started with the National Eisteddfod in Anglesey 2017 where Gwion Hallam won the Crown with his poem Trwy Ddrych. The work was inspired by creative workshops run by Gwion at Bryn Seiont Newydd Dementia Care Home, as part of Literature Wales’ Literature for Health and Wellbeing Project sponsored by Gwynedd Council. Gwion’s success drew attention to the important work being done by art practitioners in the health sector. Following the Eisteddfod, a local HSBC branch kindly donated sponsorship to enable us to organise this day which will hopefully encourage more projects in the future.

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We’ll reserve an hour in the afternoon for an Open Forum, a chance for anyone to speak about the subject. You’re welcome to give a short presentation or a talk, or a 20 minute workshop using your experience of working in the dementia and arts sector. Please contact us to discuss your idea if you’re interested to reserve a slot: tynewydd@llenyddiaethcymru.org

The day is suitable for anyone interested in the arts, health and wellbeing, dementia research and more. For more information, contact us by phoning 01766 522811 or by emailing tynewydd@llenyddiaethcymru.org