Dementia NI’s unique art exhibition, ‘Real Lives: The Art of Living with Dementia’, will be on display in the village of Belleek.

The exhibition will be officially opened by the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly, on Wednesday, July 5 at 3pm in The Wark Hall, Belleek.

The aim of the exhibition is to challenge the stigma of dementia and it will also highlight the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) initiative, The Herbert Protocol, which seeks to ensure the PSNI can respond quicker to find those with dementia who go missing.

The art exhibition, which will be on display from July 5 to August 13, will showcase thought-provoking photography and patchwork quilts. Hosted by Dementia NI, Northern Ireland’s leading charity for people in the early to middle stages of dementia, it features 45 pieces created by Dementia NI members, all of whom live with a diagnosis of dementia and some of whom are Fermanagh residents.

There are over 20,000 people living with dementia across Northern Ireland and this number is projected to rise to 60,000 by 2050, due in part to our ageing population. Years of stigma and misunderstanding have led to common misconceptions about what it means to live with dementia and what we can do to help improve the quality of life of those with the condition.

Dementia NI’s exhibition sets out to challenge these misconceptions, transforming how people view the condition and starting conversations through the medium of art. It shares a message of hope that many people with dementia are still able to enjoy life in the same way as before their diagnosis and live well with dementia.

The patchwork quilts featured in the exhibition were created during an online project organised by Dementia NI and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, to help local people with dementia stay active during lockdown. Working with Arts Council art tutors, Dementia NI members were encouraged to make their own heirloom quilts which tell the story of their lives.

The artwork will be displayed in a number of businesses throughout Belleek, providing a walking tour of the village.

To support the local businesses and groups, training on Aim for Better Access, Dementia Awareness and JAM (Just A Minute) will also be delivered to give everyone a better understanding of how to assist visitors and residents who may require additional support to access services in their area, and make the village more accessible.

The exhibition, which is open daily and is available to view for free, is on display in Centra Shop and in windows throughout the village.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is working with Belleek Development and Heritage Group, the PSNI, PCSP and Dementia NI to deliver this initiative as part of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Age Friendly Strategy. Age Friendly is supported through funding from the Public Health Agency.