GFT Movie Memories: Forming a Dementia-Friendly Cinema Community
There’s nothing quite like a trip to the cinema.
The smell of popcorn as you enter the doors. The anticipation of being transported to an entirely new place or time. Sharing laughs and tears with a group of friends, or strangers.
One of the most important aspects of cinema is community. Films have the power to bring us together. They move us, inspire us and allow us to look at the world from a new perspective. Sharing an emotional response to a film helps us to feel more connected to the people and the world around us.
However, due to accessibility needs, certain people within our community can feel isolated from experiencing film on the big screen.
Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) is driven by the need to make cinema-going accessible to everyone, providing people of all ages with opportunities for connection, community, and culture through engagement with film. To achieve this, GFT has embarked on a programme of equality and engagement work to eliminate barriers in cinema accessibility.
One of its core accessibility programmes is Movie Memories: a monthly dementia-friendly film programme striving to make film accessible to the dementia community.
Since its launch, over 2500 people have enjoyed a Movie Memories experience.
Image: Movie Memories research publications, courtesy of GFF
Glasgow Film Theatre is an independent cinema in Glasgow city centre which plays a leading role in the cultural life of the city. Originally known as the Cosmo, the cinema opened in 1939 and was the first purpose-built ‘art house’ cinema to open outside of London. Established by the Scottish Film Council in 1974 and renamed as Glasgow Film Theatre, GFT prides itself on being Scotland’s most diverse independent cinema and is host to the annual Glasgow Film Festival and Glasgow Youth Film Festival.
Image: Movie Memories ambassadors, courtesy of GFF
In October 2017, with funding from Life Changes Trust, Movie Memories was launched by GFT, offering a programme of classic and contemporary film screenings alongside multi-arts entertainment, designed with and for people living with dementia and unpaid carers.
The programme was built on two strong commitments. Firstly, to Article 27 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that “everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and its benefits”. Secondly, a dedication from GFT to form a dementia-friendly community with cinema culture at its heart.
Jodie Wilkinson, former Public Engagement Coordinator at GFT, played a significant role in implementing and coordinating the programme from its inception.
Jodie Wilkinson, former Public Engagement Coordinator, GFT
“The journey to form a dementia-friendly cinema community started with a six-month research and development period which involved: talking with our front of house team who had noticed significant changes in some of our older audiences’ needs; speaking with local people living with dementia; connecting to organisations who work with and advocate for people living with and affected by dementia; reading the available material I could source about dementia-friendly cinema practice; and discovering those people of lived experience, who we could collaborate with, learn from and help make Movie Memories relevant and meaningful to the audience we wanted to attract”
Watch to find out more about the Movie Memories ethos
It is a priority for GFT that vulnerable audiences do not go unheard and that they participate and influence the cultural life of the community. The organisation prides itself on taking a human rights-based approach to cultural participation, based on mutual respect and open dialogue with participants.
This approach ensures that GFT collaborates directly with marginalised or misrepresented groups of people, viewing them as essential contributors in the delivery and development of accessibility initiatives such as Movie Memories.
“Movie Memories have given me, and people like me, the cinema experience back. So, nothing is impossible with a little work and looking out for others. For me, if my daughter was treating me to a day out, we now have a place to go together, to have that cinema experience. It has given me back the experience of going to the movies as a pleasure, to share with others, in my home city of Glasgow.”
Agnes Houston, Dementia Coordinator
What can you expect at a Movie Memories event?
A welcoming and safe environment.
A social space, where conversation is encouraged.
Dementia aware staff and volunteers.
An interval with live music and free refreshments.
All tickets are £3.
What access does the GFT provide?
All events will be seated.
The venue will have clear signage.
There is an accessible toilet.
The flooring in the cinema is short pile carpet.
The venue is well-lit – the cinema stairs are lit at all times.
The venue is well-ventilated.
Since launching the innovative programme in 2017, Movie Memories has gone from strength to strength.
Such success has been anchored and guided by a steering group of dementia support and advocacy organisations, dementia coordinator Agnes Houston MBE, a brilliant front of house team and volunteer ambassadors who take on the role of Movie Memories Ambassadors.
Image: Musician at Movie Memories screening, courtesy of GFF
51
51 screenings so far
2966
2966 people have attended Movie Memories events
57%
Overall attendance is 57% of a maximum 100-seat capacity
The achievements of Movie Memories have been further demonstrated by research that GFT commissioned from HammondCare in 2021. A Social Return on Investment (SROI) study revealed that Movie Memories activities contribute positive social value for multiple stakeholders that is greater than the cost of the investment.
The Movie Memories analysis focused on people living with dementia, carers, volunteers and Glasgow Film Theatre, evidencing a definitive impact on the dementia community in Glasgow.
The social value contribution for every pound of investment is estimated to be £4.74.
“I just feel good. I feel special. I think a lot of people would say they make me feel special. And, you know, you would hardly get a word in, because as people are leaving, everybody is buzzing and chatting ...the excitement of people leaving the movie. It is tremendous...a tremendous feeling.” -
An audience member living with dementia
Image: Movie Memories couple, courtesy of GFF