Last year, as part of our ongoing heritage and dementia project, we funded four group art therapy workshops for people with a dementia diagnosis and their carers.
The Reminiscence Art Workshops were led by artist Iona Leishman in collaboration with Town Break Dementia Support Services. Using the contents of our Reminiscence Boxes as inspiration, attendees enjoyed chatting, getting creative, and reminiscing about the Stirling area.
These artworks were created by the attendees of the workshops and we've included the images they were inspired by that form part of our Reminiscence Boxes.
A photograph of two Highland Cows being shown at the Drymen Show in the 1970s. Image courtesy of Stirling Archives.
A photograph of Fallin Pit Head. Image courtesy of Stirling Archives.
A photograph of The Bridge Street Clock Tower with Wallace Street behind it. Image by Jo Cound.
A photograph of sheepdogs and their owners at the Strathendrick Sheepdog Trials around 1975. Image courtesy of Stirling Archives.
Architectural Plans showing the exterior of the Allan Park Cinema from 1936. Image courtesy of Stirling Archives.
‘Good Luck from Stirling’ postcard with an illustration of a black cat and images of Stirling Castle, Stirling Old Bridge, the National Wallace Monument, and Port Street. Courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum.
‘Hearty Greetings from Stirling’ postcard with an illustration of the National Wallace Monument surrounded by a heart made of forget-me-nots. Courtesy of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum.
A photograph of 29-31 Friar Street, designed by local architect John Allan.
Image by Jo Cound.
Iona Leishman is a Stirling based historical and contemporary landscape artist who has had residencies at Stirling Castle and Cowane’s Hospital. Iona facilitates workshops for a wide variety of organisations and audiences
Town Break Dementia Services was established in 1992 ‘to provide a highly personal and holistic approach that places the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of people living with dementia and their unpaid carers’. They work across the Forth Valley and provide much-needed services in Stirling including events and activities like their Lunch Group+ Community Time Out+ Sessions. They also operate in rural areas including Doune, Killearn and Killin.
To find out more about the services they offer in the Stirling area please check out their website: Town Break
To find out more about our Dementia Outreach Projects, please see this dedicated page on our website, where you can download reports on our previous work as well as use our Reminiscence Box Toolkit if you feel inspired to try creating your own: Dementia Outreach