Older People & Adults - West Cork Arts Centre

We all benefit from the greater inclusion of older voices and perspectives in arts and society. At Uillinn, older people participate in all aspects of our work and programmes as arts workers, artists, audiences, participants and board members.

Adults & Older People

Uillinn: West Cork Arts Centre promotes and facilitates opportunities for adults, art students and artists to further their education, knowledge and experience of the arts. Uillinn provides opportunities for interaction and networking through programmes and courses such as Life Drawing, Creative Writing, Painting and Drawing, Community Choir, Masterclasses, Artists’ Talks, Seminars, Discussions and Events, and through participation in national and international events throughout the years such as National Drawing Day, Slow Art Day, Culture Night and West Cork Feelgood Festival.

Continuing Professional Development and Training
Uillinn creates opportunities for artists and other professionals for training, networking, employment, dissemination of experience and ideas and creative exchange through Pre-School Arts Training; Arts and Disability Training; Dementia Training; Learning Days for Artists; Critical Discussion; Mentoring; Work Experience, Internships and Co-operative Placements.

ARTS FOR AN ACTIVE MIND with Colm Rooney

Fridays 10:30 to 12:30pm
11 September to 21 December (except 26 October)

Arts for an Active Mind offers a relaxed and social approach exploring visual art for the over 50s. Activities include: painting, printing and meeting artists in residence at Uillinn. The facilitating artists take a combined approach of demonstration and practical application to explore visual art techniques and contemporary practices.

Arts for an Active Mind is a life long learning initiative supported by Cork Education and Training Board.
The course is currently full. Please call to add your name to the waiting list.

FIND YOUR FLOW with Rebecca Keyser
Mondays 1.30 to 3.30pm
7 September to 14 December 2026 (except 26 October)
Booking through Becky only at bexykeyser@gmail.com

Designed to encourage individuals to explore and develop their own creative path. With a wide variety of materials available, the focus is on discovery and experimentation, rather than producing a ‘finished’ artwork. Support is offered as needed, including introductions to techniques and helpful ways to get started. Music plays softly in the background, creating a relaxed and welcoming environment where participants can immerse themselves in the creative process—or simply enjoy chatting and exchanging ideas with others.

Find Your Flow is supported as part of the Wellbeing Network, 49 North Street and Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre

NA LASRACHA ARTS FOR AN ACTIVE MIND+ with Toma McCullim
Weekly Workshops for LGBTQ+ Elders & Allies

These sessions will be playful, material-based and hands-on. Wear an apron or overalls and expect a bit of mess, colour and fun.
No experience necessary — just come along and join us.
Places will be advertised when available.

In the Picture Dementia Friendly Gallery Programme.
We invite people with dementia and their carers to visit, look and engage with others in a safe and welcoming environment. These specially designed sessions are facilitated by professional artists supported by health care professionals. If you are thinking of coming along, you can talk through any ideas, thoughts or concerns with the facilitators before your visit. Service is €10 and includes suitable refreshments. The service is free to Arts for Health participants.

Our experienced artist and health care facilitators create a warm atmosphere that encourages meaningful interactions with others and with the Arts Centre and its exhibitions and artists in residence, where every person gets to enjoy the engagement at their own pace.

Eclectic Dance
dates to be announced

Join community dance artist Andrew Coombs for a new series of dance classes for those with no dance experience over the age of 50. With a series of questions, provocations and ideas, Andrew invites participants to dance as you wish to an eclectic playlist from hip hop to classical via Afrika.

About the facilitator
Andrew Coombs is a community dance artist working for the last 25 years with the very young and lately with the not so young. Andrew was born in South Africa and has a background in clothing design and tailoring. He is artistic director of Adrenalindance and produces Hackney Children’s theatre, a community theatre producing house in London UK. For the last 5 years Andrew has been facilitating dance with and for 50+ years and toddlers, the commonality being playful provocations to move and everybody can dance.

BEALTAINE at Uillinn
1 – 31 May – annually

Bealtaine is Ireland’s national festival which celebrates the arts and creativity as we age. The festival is run by Age & Opportunity, the leading national development organisation working to enable the best possible quality of life for us all as we age. Age & Opportunity provides opportunities for older people to be more creative more often, to create meaningful participation and representation for all older people in cultural and creative life and to demonstrate and celebrate how our creative potential can improve with age.

The annual Bealtaine Exhibition comprises a selection of work created on the Arts for Health Programme and by Arts for an Active Mind participants.