Hidden Corners

Hidden Corners is a musical residency bridging the generations between young people and the elderly in care homes.

Hidden Corners is an opportunity for students who study music to become a part of a care home community by performing a repertoire of songs to an entire care home, under the leadership of an appointed Musician in Residence.

The pilot project was held in 2012 with the community musician Manon Llwyd in a care home in Bangor for a four week period. Following the success of this pilot project, the residency was extended to include pupils from local secondary schools Ysgol Tryfan and Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen and more recently Coleg Menai students. The residency was held in several residential and nursing homes over the four years in Bryn Llifon, Plas Hedd, Ceris Newydd, Fairways in Bangor and Plas Ogwen in Bethesda.

The aim of the project is to reach residents with dementia's 'hidden corners' in care homes – quite literally, but also, through music they can reach the ‘hidden corners’ of the residents with dementia’s minds.

Can i Emrys - BAFTA Winner

In 2013 the project was filmed by Osian Williams, a Creative Studies student in Bangor University, winning a BAFTA Cymru for the best short film – the youngest director to win.

The Future of Hidden Corners

Following the success of Hidden Corners, Pontio has created resources to encourage students and other art institutions to start their own Hidden Corners residency.

Toolkit for Arts Institutions

This Toolkit was created for Arts Institutions that wish to create their own Hidden Corners residency. The detailed Toolkit, available in both Welsh and English, leads you through the process of setting up and executing a Hidden Corners Residency, from the organization of the project to the evaluation of the project.

To receive the Toolkit, please contact Hanna Dobson on h.o.dobson@bangor.ac.uk

If you have any questions about the Toolkit, or if you wish to hold your own Hidden Corners residency please contact Pontio via email or phone: info@pontio.co.uk / 01248 38 28 28

This Toolkit is funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW)

Brief approved by Welsh Bacclaureate WJEC

Hidden Corners is also available as a Brief approved for Sixth Form students as part of WJEC Welsh Bacclaureate Community Challenge.

The purpose of the Community Challenge is to develop learners’ skills, whilst encouraging learners to identify, develop and participate in opportunities that will   benefit the community.

Students will have the opportunity to develop musical, organisational, performance and collaborative skills to operate Hidden Corners musical residency in a  care   home of your choice.

Please see the full brief attached and if you wish to complete this brief, please contact Pontio.

Brief