Soul Journey

For more than ten years, Verd de Gris Arts worked creatively with people living with dementia, discovering something that challenged many of society's assumptions. While dementia is often viewed solely through the lens of loss, confusion and decline, our creative sessions revealed something very different. Given time, trust and the opportunity to create, people continued to express humour, imagination, tenderness, curiosity and profound emotional insight.

Soul Journey emerged from this experience.

Developed in partnership with filmmakers, writers, musicians and healthcare professionals, the project sought to present a different narrative around dementia—one rooted not in illness, but in personhood. Rather than asking what people had lost, Soul Journey explored what remained: creativity, memory, emotion, relationships and the capacity to experience joy in the present moment.

The project combined film, photography, original writing, music and sound installation, creating an immersive body of work that celebrated the lives of people living with dementia. Professional artists were invited not simply to document participants but to immerse themselves in the creative sessions, developing their own artistic responses through relationships built over time. This collaborative approach ensured that every element of the work reflected genuine connection rather than observation from a distance.

The resulting exhibition toured extensively across galleries, libraries, museums, healthcare environments and public spaces throughout the UK. Importantly, Verd de Gris deliberately sought venues beyond traditional arts settings, believing that conversations about dementia should happen wherever people gather. By presenting work in GP practices, libraries, civic buildings and city centres alongside established cultural venues, the project reached audiences who may never have chosen to attend an exhibition about dementia, encouraging new conversations about ageing, care and community.

Alongside the exhibitions, workshops, screenings and public discussions brought together families, carers, students, healthcare professionals, artists and members of the wider public. The film became a particularly powerful catalyst for dialogue, helping people articulate experiences of dementia that had previously felt difficult to express. Many described feeling recognised, understood and less alone after engaging with the work.

The project's influence extended beyond its immediate audiences. Soul Journey strengthened partnerships between the arts and health sectors, informed professional training, opened new commissioning opportunities and demonstrated the value of creativity as an integral part of dementia care. It also provided professional development for the commissioned artists, whose work on the project led to further commissions and collaborations.

Ultimately, Soul Journey represents one of Verd de Gris Arts' defining projects. It distilled more than a decade of artistic practice into a powerful statement about dignity, creativity and human connection, demonstrating that art can do far more than illustrate people's experiences—it can fundamentally reshape how society understands them. The project's lasting impact was recognised nationally when Verd de Gris Arts received the Outstanding Art & Creativity in Dementia Care award, celebrating an approach that continues to influence both creative practice and dementia care today. A very special thanks to film maker Geoff Brokate, writer Paula Sutherland and sound artist Nina Perry.

We are grateful to Arts Council England and South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust for supporting this important work.