A group of artists are partnering with older persons’ housing services across Greater Manchester in order to create work encouraging more inclusivity within sheltered housing and independent living schemes.
The Back In The Closet project by LGBT Foundation will see an artist work directly with staff and residents at a Manchester housing scheme to create an 'artistic response' to the experiences of residents.
Artists taking part in the residency include Trafford-based visual artist Jez Dolan, storyteller Lauren Sagar, filmmaker Anna Raczynski and visual artist Tamzin Forster.
Artists Rachel Anderson and Cis O’Boyle will also be involved as part of Idle Woman, a collaborative project focused on creating vibrant spaces for women through sculpture and performance.
“My practice as an artist is focused around queerness, identity and history, often through telling stories,” artist Jez Dolan explains of his involvement in the project.
“The Back in the Closet project has a real resonance with my ongoing work, and I’m really excited about the opportunity of sharing my practice with older LGBTQIA+ people living in residential settings.
“As an older artist I’m looking forward to collaborating with communities of people and sharing our stories and shared histories, and looking at how we can make often unheard voices heard and appreciated.”
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During September, each artist will spend a minimum of eight days remotely working with their partnered scheme.
Calico Homes, One Manchester, Trafford Housing Trust and Great Places Housing Group are all taking part in the project, which is in partnership with HouseProud and Great Places at Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Cllr Brenda Warrington, Greater Manchester’s Lead for Age-Friendly and Equalities, said she hoped the project would lead to more ‘dignified and inclusive housing’ from housing associations.
“A survey in 2014 reported that two thirds of care home staff said there was not a single resident who was openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans where they worked,” Cllr Warrington said.
“We know this cannot be true and points to the fact that many older LGBT+ people feel uncomfortable and unable to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity.
“We can learn a lot through this scheme and by using art, residents and staff will have the chance to be creative and I look forward to seeing the end results.”
Launched last year by Sir Ian McKellen, LGBT Foundation’s Pride in Ageing programme was set up after growing concerns that many LGBT+ people over the age of 50 are living in isolation and regularly face discrimination.
During Manchester Pride, drag artist Cheddar Gorgeous joined Pride in Ageing to host virtual LGBT History quizzes and make-up tutorials specifically for the over-50's.
Lawrie Roberts, Pride in Ageing Manager at LGBT Foundation, said he hoped the Back In The Closet project would help Manchester’s older LGBT+ community feel heard.
“Pride in Ageing aims to make Greater Manchester one of the best places to grow older as a LGBT+ person, and ensuring that people feel safe and comfortable to be open about their sexual orientation or trans status in the housing scheme in which they live is a huge part of achieving this,” he added.
“We are incredibly excited to be working with a group of hugely talented artists from across the North West and a network of housing providers across Greater Manchester on these residencies, which though creative practise will open up new conversations around LGBT+ visibility in retirement schemes.”
