Bournemouth, Christchurch, Culture, Poole | Posted on October 3rd, 2024 | return to news
BCP Council residents challenge ageism through art project
Iconic album covers which have been recreated featuring local older people will be on display at various locations during October.
Just because you are older, it doesn’t mean that you have lost touch with popular music and the culture that surrounds it.
That has been proved by five people living in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area who have recreated iconic album covers as part of a campaign organised in partnership between BCP Council and the local Age Friendly Communities Network.
The campaign, which marked the United Nations International Day of Older People on 1 October, features retired nurse Anne Blendell, 79, wearing blue latex gloves and a nurse’s hat to recreate Blink-182’s iconic album cover.
Amateur photographer Louise Ahrens, who is the Health and Social Care lead for Christchurch Primary Care Network and an Age Friendly ambassador, also featured her own father Keith Martin, 83, as David Bowie from the Aladdin Sane album in the series.
The project aims to challenge negative perceptions of ageing and celebrate the vital part that older people play in our communities.
Other local residents featured in the vintage idol campaign are Teresa Clarke, 76, as Adele, Maureen Capper, 80, as Madonna, and Pat Shepherd, 85, as Taylor Swift.
The public will be able to view the photos in venues across the BCP area this month, including various libraries, Hengistbury Head Visitors Centre, Kinson Community Centre and Access Wellbeing Hub in The Dolphin Centre, Poole.
The campaign comes as BCP Council celebrates 25 Age Friendly Ambassadors starting their roles this year. These ambassadors – who include residents, group leaders and members from the Age Friendly network of businesses and organisations – are working closely with BCP Council and partners on age friendly training and communications, while raising awareness of issues affecting our older population.
Cllr Sandra Moore, portfolio holder for Communities and Partnerships at BCP Council said: “It is so important we celebrate the integral role older people play in our communities and neighbourhoods; as workers, carers, volunteers, activists and community connectors. Often, these vital contributions are overlooked or limited by ageism and other societal and physical barriers.
“The vintage idols display not only challenges some of the stereotypes of older people, but propels our senior population into the spotlight. My thanks go to our vintage idols for their support, Louise Ahren for her stunning photography, and to the Christchurch Community Partnership who helped find willing volunteers to have their photos taken for this project.”
Kelly Deane, director of Housing and Communities at BCP Council, said: “There is a lot of great work happening across the BCP area to improve the lives of older residents, and the council is committed to making our community a better place to live in.
“This year the World Health Organisation accepted Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole into their Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities. This means that alongside gaining and sharing best practice locally and nationally, we can now be part of the international network.”
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