The fire, food and festivities of a Mardi Gras event are set to include the artwork of residents from a Great Yarmouth care home. 

Claremont House, run by Healthcare Homes, caters for elderly people and those with dementia. Over the past few weeks, staff have welcomed professional artist, Rob Birch, to help the residents create paintings and drawings ahead of the big day on February 16.  By the time of the event, they will have enjoyed five weekly sessions.

The artwork produced by the residents will be turned into a 15-minute animated film by Rob, interspersed with photographs of them at work.  This will be shown on a loop throughout the event in the front window of the Tropical Café on King Street.

Healthcare Homes regional activity co-ordinator, Sue Campbell-Bannerman, said: “The residents – the oldest of whom, Eva Kent, is 102 - have relished taking part in the project.  Indeed, one resident, Dorothy Willsea, who’s 92, has been drawing every day since the sessions started. She does artwork in her room and brings it to the workshops.  One of our dementia residents, Ray Woodley, also does brilliant paintings. His wife was really emotional when she saw what he had done.”

Sue said the project had given everyone a real boost, bringing the residents closer together.  “We play Brazilian music during the sessions to get everyone in the mood,” she said. “There’s a great atmosphere and it’s given the residents something in common.”

While the residents won’t make it to the Mardi Gras itself, Sue said they would be able to view the film of their work at the home, while their original paintings and drawings will be framed and put on display.

The Mardi Gras has been organised by arts development organisation, Seachange Arts. Creative learning officer, Laurie Miller-Zutshi, said she was delighted with the efforts of the Claremont House residents. She said: “We’ve had a really positive response from them. We were told by a resident’s wife that it was the first time her husband had used his hands in two years.”

Laurie added that the skills taught by Rob Birch could be carried on by staff at the home after the Mardi Gras. “It’s important for us that there is a sense of sustainability with projects like this,” she said.

The Mardi Gras itself will celebrate the growing multi-cultural nature of Great Yarmouth, featuring musicians, street games, cooking demonstrations and unicyclists.  The event takes place from 3.30pm to 8pm in King Street.