Sign of the Times

It is estimated that by 2050, for the first time in human history, there will be more people aged over 60 in the world, than children.

Exactly how well people age is an issue of increasing priority. Social connectedness is well regarded
as a key determinant of health and residential aged care facilities should be well placed to tackle issues of loneliness and isolation due to communal living. However, research found that older people in residential care often report feeling more lonely than those living in the community.

Sign of the Times is a new creative ageing arts ‘festival’ built within aged care environments that promotes healthy ageing, connection and inclusion. Professional artists are in residence to co-create a ‘festival’ with the aged care residents, the results of which are open to the general public. This model flips the paradigm of ageism, turning aged care environments into vital, cultural spaces. All The Queens Men will assemble a creative team of diverse artists, all with differing relationships to elders and ageing than dominant Western paradigms could do well to learn from.