Hear and Now is an award-winning, creative, intergenerational community project achieved over the past ten years in Bedford by the Philharmonia Orchestra and Orchestras Live. Established in the multicultural area of Queens Park, this project unites ‘Music 4 Memory’ participants – a vocal group of people living with dementia and their carers from Tibbs Dementia Foundation – with members of Fusion Youth Singing and other young and adult musicians from the local community. In the latest project, conducted in November 2019, academics from the Research Institute at the University’s School of Media and Performance joined forces with them to incorporate dance, movement and film into the creative process.

Over five weekends, the group worked closely with composer and conductor Tim Steiner, performance artist Amalia Garcia and Philharmonia musicians, to create a full length multidisciplinary performance which featured over 100 people. By evaluating the participants’ indicators of wellbeing and social inclusion, researchers were able to identify the benefits from this interdisciplinary and intergenerational community project which will be unveiled and analysed at the upcoming Beds Talk.

Rachel Farrer, Senior Lecturer at University of Bedfordshire’s School of Media and Performance said:

The event will include guest speakers, complimentary refreshments and networking opportunities. Tickets are free but attendees must register their place online via Eventbrite.