Research that was co-produced by older people and academic researchers, and led by Dr Lizzie Ward from the University of Brighton’s Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, provided the inspiration for a virtual reality art project that addressed current public debates around care. 

Care(less), produced by British artist Lindsay Seers, was exhibited at Fabrica in Brighton from 5 October to 24 November, before heading to Lincoln and Birmingham. The thought-provoking artwork was commissioned by the University of Brighton, University of Birmingham and University of Lincoln. These institutions are part of the OPCARE Commissioning Partnership, along with Fabrica, the Ikon in Birmingham and Lincoln’s Frequency Festival. 

Lindsay Sears ‘Every thought there ever was’.

Funded by Wellcome Trust, Care(less) responds to new research that looks at the experiences of older people receiving care which they pay for themselves. The art piece, along with an accompanying programme of talks, discussions and activities, sought to explore the value and meaning of care in human relationships. Seers collaborated with the university research teams to expand the public conversation about care, opening up a space to “explore the universal human dilemmas that we may all face but do not want to think about until they happen”.

Dr Lizzie Ward said: “Public debate on care is typically limited by policy concerns about the economic costs of an ageing population and the anticipated impact on health and social care resources.

“It is also underpinned by an intrinsic fear and distancing from ageing inherent in our contemporary culture and the idea that independence and autonomy are to be valued above all else.”

The OPCARE commission provided the focus for a public programme of education and participation activities, inviting viewers to reflect and draw on their own experiences about care. The goals of this programme were for it to be participative and to build relationships between the partnership researchers and arts organisations.