Funded by NHS Tayside Charitable Foundation, the Here & Now project was a pilot initiative designed to foster creativity and connection. Unlike traditional structured classes, these weekly workshops were participant-led, allowing the group to dictate the pace and focus.

Key elements of the project included:

• Adaptive Creativity: Workshops moved away from simple reminiscence, instead exploring stop-motion filmmaking, poetry writing, and imaginative games.

• Relationship Building: The lead artist and filmmaker spent time meeting participants at their local centres before the project began, building trust and rapport to ensure everyone felt "safe" to be creative.

• Dementia-Friendly Venue: In a major strategic step, all front-facing staff at Perth Theatre and Concert Hall received specialist dementia training, ensuring the venue itself became a welcoming sanctuary.

• Community Integration: Participants were encouraged to engage with the theatre’s wider offerings, including a group outing to see a performance of Restless Natives.

The project successfully transformed how participants viewed their own capabilities and how the theatre engaged with the dementia community.

• Creative Growth: Participants who had never tried filmmaking or poetry found themselves "thinking out of the box." One participant noted: "I never realised my brain was capable of absorbing so much information... it takes me out of my comfort zone and helps with my confidence."

• Social Connection: The workshops acted as a vital social hub, reducing isolation for both patients and their carers. For many, the group became a "safety net" of friendship and laughter.

• Staff Confidence: The venue is now better equipped to welcome visitors with dementia, with staff feeling more aware and confident in providing support.

• Sustainability: Following the success of the pilot, PTCH is now exploring further funding to make Here & Now a permanent fixture in their seasonal calendar.

By allowing the sessions to evolve week-to-week based on the participants' interests, Here & Now proved that creativity doesn't have a shelf life. The project evidenced that when you provide the right conditions—trust, professional support, and a safe environment—individuals living with Alzheimer's can continue to learn, laugh, and contribute to the cultural heart of Tayside.