The Studio, Beaufort House

The Studio
The Studio is a collaborative art project in Beaufort Nursing Home, Navan. The project has made use of an empty polytunnel at Beaufort House, a residential unit for older persons. This reclaimed space became a place for art making, growing, cooking and eating with residents. It questions what it means to keep growing as you grow old, and to create a space where conversations about death, life, and growing can be explored.  The Studio is a seasonal, outdoor space where residents come to grow, pot seeds, chat, make art, eat, drink cups of tea, offer advice on planting, cook, sit and share life stories. Seasons, cycles, stories, time given to listening, cooking and eating as a method of connection, growing as a means of connection, growth, intergenerational knowledge and the passing on of wisdom.  
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Potatoes and  Pickles
A film was produced, ​Pickles & Potatoes,  which documents the interactions that took place every Wednesday for nine months, from Spring to Autumn, in 2024. The film screening is accompanied by an exhibition of prints and ceramics created by participants.
 
Funding
The Studio at Beaufort House is a wonderful example of multi-organisation funding and support. The project was initially funded by the Arts Council Artist in the Community Scheme, managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts. The project was initiated in 2023 with Solstice Arts Centre, who had an established relationship with Beaufort House, a residential service for older people in Navan, Co Meath. With the support of Solstice, artist Joanna Hopkins was awarded Research and Development funding from Create to work with the residents of Beaufort House.
 
In 2024, we secured a follow up Project Realisation award from Create. This developed 'The Studio' as a dedicated, seasonal art space, and the creation of a film 'Potatoes & Pickles', documenting the growing, eating and cooking in this space. There will be a  presentation of Potatoes and Pickles as part of National Arts in Nursing Homes Day, funded by the Bealtaine National Arts in Nursing Homes Day Award for 2025.
 
Beaufort House are currently seeking support to continue The Studio for residents.
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