THE art world will be opened up to people with dementia, and other long-term illnesses, as part of a new £96,000 project.

Middesbrough's mima art gallery has teamed up with North-East charity Equal Arts to bring art to dementia patients from across Teesside.

Creative Age is an 18-month scheme which will see older people, and their carers, respond to work in mima's collection to discuss and create their own art work.

Erin Rolfe, mima Education Officer, said: “We’re really keen to work with Equal Arts on such a worthy and inclusive project. Our sessions will involve working with artists in developing activities that respond to the collection, the exhibitions and the building as a whole.”

Douglas Hunter, Director of Equal Arts, said: “Traditionally, memory-based activities are offered to people living with dementia, a memory-related illness, and this can cause anxiety in some. Our sessions focus more on people’s imagination and ideas.

“This initiative is a huge step forward for the North East in terms of providing arts provision for people with dementia and those with health conditions such as hearing loss and Alzheimer’s.”

During the weekly Creative Age sessions, approximately 15 participants will work with artists to explore their creativity as part of smaller art and craft projects before culminating in a region-wide sponsored creative challenge to round off the programme.

Sessions start on October 8 and will run every Thursday between 1pm and 3pm. Anyone wanting to find out more or to register their interest can call Equal Arts on 0191-477-5775 or email information@equalarts.org.uk.