Chichester Festival Theatre: 2025 Disruption Award Winner

(B)old: A Participatory Arts Project

The 2025 Disruption Awards winners represent the incredible work that can be done and achieved for the dementia community when given the support and space to create real change.

Chichester Festival Theatre's (B)old: A Participatory Arts Project will deliver creative workshops for people with dementia, focusing on older men and global majority participants. These workshops include artist training, mentorship by Arti Prashar OBE, and community showcases.

(B)old is a pioneering participatory arts project that empowers people living with dementia through theatre, visual, and digital arts. Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) is proud to be co-creating this project with Arti Prashar OBE, a leader in participatory arts for dementia, and CFT’s Head of Community Outreach, Louise Rigglesford.

Thanks to the funding received through the Disruption Awards, (B)old will provide training to a cohort of artists, developing their skills in person-centred work with participants living with dementia.

‘We are absolutely delighted to be named one of this year’s Disruption Award recipients,’ says Louise Rigglesford. ‘For many years, there has been a critical shortage of highly skilled participatory arts practitioners with expertise in working with people living with dementia.

‘Thanks to the generous support of the Dementia Trust, we can tackle this issue while also reaching sub-communities within an already marginalised group. We’re particularly excited to develop a programme that engages historically underrepresented participants in partnership with the passionate team at the Dementia Trust.’

The artists will work with Arti and Louise to create and deliver unique workshops for those living with dementia and their carers in under-represented communities; specifically working with Older Men living with dementia in Chichester and people from the Global Majority living with dementia in Crawley.

(B)old is designed to be the first stage of a long-term programme of creative engagement for people living with dementia, that could influence arts and care organisations across the country. Building on Arti’s extensive artistic practice, these workshops will be designed for those living with dementia and their carers to connect and interact in joyful new ways.

Participants will be supported to explore self-expression and identity through creativity.

‘I am excited to take the first step to bring (B)old to life, a project which has the potential to affect positive change for dementia and arts,’ theatremaker Arti says.

‘I am looking forward to passing on my knowledge and skills to the next generation of local artists to help shape and influence their own creative thinking when it comes to community and participatory engagement. I hope the artists will reflect or have a deep understanding of the communities we will be working with.

‘A little creative disruption and challenge that can cause ripples within arts and dementia is always a good thing,’ she adds.

Chichester Festival Theatre is a world-class theatre at the heart of the community. On and off the stage, CFT is committed to providing ambitious, inspiring and inclusive arts experiences that transform the lives of those in our community. The Learning, Education and Participation programme (LEAP) provides over 80,000 participation opportunities annually for people to get creative and feel inspired. This programme includes The Chatter Project, for adults aged 65+ who are living alone or at risk of social isolation, designed for participants to express themselves and make friends in a creative environment. CFT Buddies is a companion scheme to match up volunteers with individuals who request additional support for their visit. 

Accessibility is a top priority for CFT. Each year, there is a Dementia Friendly Performance of the celebrated summer musical, designed for people living with dementia to enjoy with their families, friends and carers. The performance includes small changes to create a more comfortable environment; audience members are welcome to come and go during the show, volume levels are reduced and the houselights stay on at a low level. There’s also a short recap of the first act after the interval, before the second act.

To read more about what’s on offer at Chichester Festival Theatre, visit cft.org.uk.