Testing Situations
2020
7th February 2020 11am-3pm - Testing Situations at The National Innovation Centre of Ageing, Newcastle
Join us at National Innovation Centre of Ageing and share your experiences of dementia, assessment and art.
Over the last year, artist Charles Harrison and the Testing Situations team have been touring around the UK to learn more about people's experiences of being tested.For this final showcase event Testing Situations will be presenting an exhibition of learning from the tour alongside screenings of 3 artistic films made by, or in collaboration with people living with dementia. In the morning session we will hear from speakers about their experiences and watch three short films. This will be followed by a panel discussion and audience Q&A.
In the afternoon session you will be invited to engage with artistic outputs from the project and take part in a drawing and mark-making workshop.
The event is open to all and may be particularly relevant for people who have received a diagnosis of dementia, carers and for researchers, artists and film-makers working with themes of ageing, creativity and care. READ MORE
The Testing Situations exhibition will also be on display 10-4pm, Saturday 8th February.
This event has been funded by a Wellcome Public Engagement Grant, working in collaboration Rare Dementia Support, UCL and Newcastle University.
Some aspects of these activities may be filmed, photographed or recorded with an audio device. Please click here for more information.
2019
PAST EVENTS
MAY
St George’s Hospital Young Onset Dementia Support Group
Date: 29th May, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Description: As part of this regular meeting of people affected by young onset dementia, we will be screening the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of rare dementia support groups. The screening will be followed by conversation about people’s experiences of cognitive testing and an object handling session inspired by objects seen in the film (approx. 30mins). The aim of this work is to better understand the experience of testing and for this to contribute to improving clinical methods in the future.
Location: John Parker Lecture Theatre at St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Rd, Tooting, London SW17 0QT
Places for this event are limited, if you would like more information about the group or would be interested in coming along please contact Nicola.Zimmermann@stgeorges.nhs.uk
(Suitable for 10-25 participants)
JUNE
Carer Support Group, Epsom
Date: 4th June, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Description: As part of this regular meeting of carers of people living with dementia, we will be screening the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of rare dementia support groups. The screening will be followed by conversation about people’s experiences of cognitive testing and an object handling session inspired by objects seen in the film (approx. 30mins). The aim of this work is to better understand the experience of testing and for this to contribute to improving clinical methods in the future.
Location: Orchard Centre, Appleby House, Longmead Road, Ewell KT19 9RX
Places for this event are limited, if you would like more information about the group of would be interested in coming along please contact claire.robertson54@gmail.com
(Suitable for 10-25 participants)
Hertfordshire PCA Support Group
Date: 12th June, (1-3pm)
Description: As part of this regular meeting for people affected by Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), we will be screening the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of rare dementia support groups. The screening will be followed by conversation about people’s experiences of cognitive testing and an object handling session inspired by objects seen in the film (approx. 1hour). The aim of this work is to better understand the experience of testing and for this to contribute to improving clinical methods in the future.
Location: St Andrew's Church, 37 Quickley Lane, Chorleywood, Hertfordshire WD3 5AE
Places for this event are limited, if you would like more information about the group of would be interested in coming along please contact:
(Suitable for 10-25 participants)
Kent Young Ones
Date: 19th June, 10am-12noon
Description: As part of this regular meeting of people affected by young onset dementia, we will be screening the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of rare dementia support groups. The screening will be followed by conversation about people’s experiences of cognitive testing and an object handling session inspired by objects seen in the film (approx. 30mins). The aim of this work is to better understand the experience of testing and for this to contribute to improving clinical methods in the future.
This will be a private event so unfortunately there aren't any places available.
SYL @ #BrainPower: UCL Neuroscience Festival
Date: 22nd June, 11am-5pm
Description: Brain Power will be a whole day of public events showcasing the best of neuroscience at UCL, including interactive stalls, talks, short films, artworks, live demonstrations, storytelling, and workshops. At this event we will be presenting research and artworks looking at artistic gestures in relation to balance and movement produced as part of trials at UCL Whole Body Sensorimotor Laboratory. Single Yellow Lines will also be trialling a new interactive activity for public engagement, inviting visitors to paint single yellow lines in virtual reality.
Location: The Cloisters, University College London, Gower Street, London. WC1E 6BT
This event is open to the public, please drop in.
(Suitable for 100+ participants)
JULY
Alexandra Palace – Transmitter Hall
Date: 16th July, Time 2pm-4:30pm
Description: Alexandra Palace Charitable Trust is a Grade II listed entertainment and sports venue in London. Thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding, the palace has established a programme of activities that supports people who are living with dementia and their carers. We will be working alongside established dementia groups and networks at Alexandra Palace and in the first session we will be screening the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of rare dementia support groups. The screening will be followed by conversation about people’s experiences of cognitive testing and object handling inspired by objects seen in the film (approx. 1hour). Following refreshments, we will invite participants to reflect on testing roles and new research through a series of drawing exercises (approx. 1hour). Drawings produced will form part of an exhibition at Alexandra palace taking place in November.
Location: Transmitter Hall, Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY (Map)
(Suitable for 20-50 participants)
Places are limited, for more information and to register for the event please contact charlesrobertharrison@gmail.com or phone 07824778390. All are welcome to participate or observe but please be aware that some aspects of these sessions may not be suitable for everyone.
AUGUST
Unique Cottage Studios, Spalding
Date: 9th & 10th August, 10am-4pm
Description: This will be a two-day drop-in exhibition and event, where visitors to this beautiful rural arts facility will be able to watch and talk about the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of rare dementia support groups. Visitors will also be invited to take part in our drawing activities, reflecting on testing roles and new research themes, whilst contributing to conversations about cognitive testing and art.
Location: Unique Cottage Studios, Fulney Ln, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 6FA
This event is open to the public, please drop in.
(Suitable for 100+ participants)
SEPTEMBER
Glasgow CCA - Club Room & Cinema
Date: 16th September, 10am-2pm
Description: The Centre for Contemporary Arts is an arts centre in Glasgow, Scotland offering a year-round programme including exhibitions, film, music, literature, spoken word, festivals, Gaelic and performance. The first day of public engagement at Glasgow CCA will focus on historical developments in cognitive testing and the ways this area might cross over with contemporary art. Project lead Charlie Harrison will give an introduction to his work in this area, which has been developed as part of the Created Out of Mind residency at the Wellcome Collection. This introduction will be followed by a screening, object handling activity and conversation about the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of rare dementia support groups which responds to a test of reading devised by Emeritus Professor Elizabeth K Warrington. The afternoon session will invite participants to reflect on testing roles and new research through a series of drawing and writing exercises and we will discuss how artistic content for Testing Situations should be interpreted, stored and presented to the public. (Lunch will be provided).
Location: Glasgow CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3JD
(Suitable for 20-60 participants) To book a place, please follow link in title above.
Living well with dementia - Leeds
Date: Wednesday 25 September 2019
Description: As part of an event co-produced by Every Third Minute Festival Curators and West Yorkshire Playhouse, Testing Situations will be presenting the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of rare dementia support groups. Visitors will also be invited to take part in our drawing activities, reflecting on testing roles and new research themes, whilst contributing to conversations about cognitive testing and art.
Location: The Met Hotel Leeds, King Street, Leeds LS1 2HQ
This event is fully booked.
Glasgow CCA - Club Room & Cinema
Date: 30th September, 10am-2pm
Description: The second day of public engagement at Glasgow CCA will focus on how gesture, artistic action and embodiment can be observed using motion capture systems, data analysis and virtual reality. The day will begin with an introduction to the Single Yellow Lines project and its development through collaborations with researchers at UCL Whole Body Sensorimotor Laboratory and participants in research trials investigating balance and movement for people with posterior cortical atrophy (a rare dementia affecting visual perception) and typical Alzheimer’s disease. We will consider the extent to which artistic actions can be interpreted and analysed, exploring the multiple forms of data produced in the research. The afternoon session will begin with screenings of a data-produced film, reflecting the bodies of participants in the trials with motion analysis and physiological responses converted into video and sound. Following this, we will trial a new interactive activity for public engagement, inviting participants in the workshop to paint single yellow lines in virtual reality. The day will finish with a short discussion.
(Lunch will be provided).
Location: Glasgow CCA, 350 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3JD
(Suitable for 20-60 participants) To book a place, please follow link in title above
OCTOBER
Testing Situations at Bloomsbury Festival
Date: Saturday 19th October 10am-4pm
Location: Lumen URC, Community Room 1, 88 Tavistock Pl, Kings Cross, London WC1H 9RS
Description: For Bloomsbury Festival, Testing Situations will be contributing a drop-in exhibition and series of events, including screenings of the ‘Neva’, a film made in collaboration with members of Rare Dementia Support groups and researchers at UCL Dementia Research Centre as part of the Created Out of Mind Residency at Wellcome Collection. Visitors will also be invited to take part in drawing activities, reflecting on testing roles and new research themes, whilst contributing to conversations and discussion about the experience of cognitive testing and art.
Click here for more information
This event is open to the public, please drop in.
(Suitable for 100+ participants)
Single Yellow Lines at Barbican Centre
Date: 23rd-27th October
Location: Barbican Centre, Silk St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS
Description: Drop into the Hub for Life Rewired and take part in a live experiment that incorporates real world mark-making and virtual painting environments. Artist Charles Harrison invites you to paint your single yellow line in this Hub take-over that explores the characteristics of singular painted gestures. This event will also include a one-day audio-visual installation in the Level G studio on 26th October.
Click here for more information
This event is open to the public, please drop in.
(Suitable for 100+ participants)
NOVEMBER
Taking Care. Fabrica, Brighton
Presented in partnership with ESRC Festival of Social Science.
Date: November 4th, 10am-4pm
Location: Fabrica Gallery, 40 Duke St, Brighton BN1 1AG
Description: Fabrica is a visual arts organisation based in a former Regency church in the heart of Brighton. In conjunction with Care(less), an exhibition by artist Lindsay Seers, the Testing Situations team will consider how cognitive tests help us understand how the human mind works by leading visitors through a series of testing experiences and drawing activities.
Click here for more information
(Suitable for 100+ participants)
Grainger Market, Newcastle
Date: November 14th, 10am-4pm
Description: Grainger Market is a bustling Market Hall dating from 1835. Testing Situations will be offering a range of drop-in events, including screenings and conversations about the ‘Neva’, a film about testing and narration, made in collaboration with members of Rare Dementia Support groups and researchers at UCL Dementia Research Centre. Visitors will also be invited to take part in a series of drawing activities, reflecting on testing roles and new research themes.
Location: Grainger St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5QQ
This event is open to the public, please drop in.
(Suitable for 100+ participants)