Mariana’s Song
Marianas Song is a multi-sensory cinema experience created for older people with dementia, living in care homes.
“It’s profoundly different and hugely impactful. It touches on a much deeper level of that person’s being when someone has that level of dementia where they are not easily able to communicate.”
An innovative, and revolutionary approach to creative ageing.
Mariana’s Song takes place within a thoughtfully designed, pop-up multisensory installation, complete with sensory objects of interest to intrigue the participant. Mariana’s Song reaches audiences in residential care homes with the lowest levels of engagement in arts and culture and supports creativity through user-led engagement. As audiences explore tactile objects within the space, which correlate with and trigger the 6 generative chapters of the film, each non-verbal cue affects the atmosphere and sensory state of the installation. Audiences can enjoy each of the 6 sensory experiences for an unlimited time and in any sequence using non-verbal communication, making the work accessible to people who are not able to communicate easily.
We’ve tested this approach with 125 older audiences with advanced dementia who are often excluded from meaningful art and cultural experiences due to physical and cognitive barriers.
Mariana’s Song is designed to reach people with advanced dementia and leave a lasting legacy on residents and care home staff.
You can now purchase Mariana’s Song for your care home. To learn more about our multisensory experience and training packages for staff.
Woven Nest Theatre: Poppy Crawshaw, Liv Hunt
Design Research Team: Henry Collingham, Jayne Wallace
Northumbria University Senior Technician: Johnny Hayes
Mariana's Song Filmmaker: Danielle Giddins
Location Filming: Turps Films & Laura Degnan
Location Photography: Phyllis Christopher
Textiles Artist: Alice Guthrie
Digital and Physical Design: Henry Collingham
Participating Care Settings: The Laurels Care Home, Sand Banks, The Gables, Hazelgrove Court, and Longlands
Research funded by EPSRC, part of Centre for Digital Citizens project code EP/T022582/1. Find out more at The Ageless Citizen website.
Supported by: Middlesborough Council, Redcar & Cleveland Council, and Sunderland Culture