Remember The Time We Sing – Tai Kwun’s community arts project will be presented in collaboration with “Every Life Is A Song” and “My Main Stage” Music Production Pilot Programme, two non-profit organisations with a focus on music and the support of Charles K Kao Foundation for Alzheimer’s Disease. Young families and emerging songwriters are invited to be part of this project and deepen their understanding about dementia by means of music. The project aims at raising the awareness about the disease through artistic means and inspire people to embrace the disease with a positive attitude.

“Every Life Is A Song” was co-founded by Hong Kong singer-songwriter Vicky Fung and lyricist Chow Yiu Fai; “My Main Stage” was established by the acclaimed music producer Chiu Tsang Hei. In this project, the two organisations will collaborate for the first time and engage participants in understanding the needs and circumstances that people with dementia and their families may face. They will also guide the participants through the process of songwriting by co-creation, through which stories will be remembered, companionship will be sought, and our community will be connected.

Remember The Time We Sing is Tai Kwun’s annual community arts project following the success of two editions of the ÉLAN Lost Child Project HK. The project will start in May, and conclude with sharing, screening and showcase in August to September. The public events will reveal the learnings and reflections of the participating songwriters and young families.

Photograph: @Tsz925

I. Tai Kwun Conversations: Music & Arts Co-creation for Inclusiveness - Pilot Project for the Dementia Community
Arts provides space and channel for expression, allowing everyone to release one’s emotions and stress in own pace. It is also a kind of therapy, gentle and suitable for various conditions and situations. The “Tai Kwun Conversation” held on 27 August will explore “Co-creation” as a new method of arts therapy. Speakers will share on how to bring about a safe and friendly environment for people in different age groups and conditions to create bonding in a short period of time and create art pieces together. The dialogues will feature the project Remember The Time We Sing as one of the cases for study, to share the findings on how “Co-creation” can support people with dementia, their families and carers.

Speakers will be sharing from perspectives of arts, patient support, medical treatment and more to have a thorough discussion on the role of arts in prevention and early discovery of dementia. We sincerely invite those who are involved in social welfare work for the elderly, concerned about intergenerational inclusion, and those who wish to learn more about art therapy to participate.

Speakers:
Ms. Vicky Fung, Co-Founder of Every Life Is A Song
Mrs. Gwen Kao, Chairman of Charles K Kao Foundation for Alzheimers Disease
Other speakers will be announced in due course.

Date: 27.08.2023 (Sun)
Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm
Venue: JC Cube
Free Admission, Registration Required. Details to be announced in mid August.
Conducted in Cantonese

II. Documentary Screening & Sharing

Remember The Time We Sing started off from May, from recruiting young musicians, forming “Muse Families” with parents and children, to interacting with “Embrace Families” who includes family members with dementia. Through many gatherings, friendships were built among the many participatns and they have co-written lyrics and created their own song in workshops. We have seen quiet elderly people began dancing when they heard familiar oldies, or lively kids can quickly befriend with elderly people they met even for the first time. These beautiful encounters are recorded in a documentary short film edited by emerging director Eric Tsang, and each screening will be hosted by different participants with sharing sessions.

Session I: Muse Family & Trainers
Date: 02.09.2023 (Sat)
Time: 2:00pm-2:45pm
Venue: F Hall

Session II: Senior Elderly Service Social Worker Mr. Wong & Trainers
Date: 02.09.2023 (Sat)
Time: 4:45pm-5:15pm
Venue: F Hall

Session III: Muse Family & Trainers
Date: 03.09.2023 (Sun)
Time: 2:00pm-2:45pm
Venue: F Hall
Remarks:

• Duration of the documentary is about 20 minutes, dialogues in Cantonese with English subtitles
• Sharing will be conducted in Cantonese

III. Concert
After a co-creation voyage that has lasted for around 4 months, inspiration birthed from a few hours of workshops are enriched with lyrics and melodies through continuous interaction and communication. The songs are then polished by producers of My Main Stage, and the fruits of this journey will be presented and performed by artists, trainers and Muse Families in Remember The Time We Sing Concert. Memories may gradually fade through aging and physical impairment, but songs co-created while we seize the moment will last forever.

Concert Date & Time:
02.09.2023 (Sat) | 3:30pm-4:30pm
02.09.2023 (Sat) | 7:00pm-8:45pm (with post-concert sharing*)
03.09.2023 (Sun) | 3:30pm-5:15pm (with post-concert sharing*)
*Guests of the sharing will be announced in due course

Venue: JC Cube
Free Admission, Registration required
Conducted in Cantonese

Muse Family Recruitment

This summer, we are looking for families and children who are passionate about music and curious to learn more about dementia to become “Muse Family” of Remember The Time We Sing. From July onwards, you will join and be led by creative tutors to get to know people with dementia, their families and caregivers. Through these encounters, you will transform these stories into music and lyrics with the guidance of the creative tutors. The result of the co-creation will be shared with the general public in late August and early September through showcase performances, screening and sharing. By the end of this programme, we believe that not only will you be connected to our tutors and the communities of people with dementia but also ultimately all the beloved around you.

This programme is free of charge and your commitment is the only requirement. Participants are recommended to sign up as a family unit of 2 to 4 members.  All events will be conducted in Cantonese.

Please visit the online application form (Chinese only) to see the application requirement and details: SIGN UP NOW

Application Deadline: 15.06.2023 (Thursday) 23:59

The recruitment was closed on 15.06.2023. You are welcome to join the other public activities in August and September.

Remarks: Tai Kwun only provides the platform for application. All The personal data provided by you for this programme are collected is only accessible toand used by “Every Life Is A Song” for the purposes related to this programme. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions in the  application form for details usage (in Chinese only).

As a centre for heritage and arts in Hong Kong, Tai Kwun aspires to integrate the invisible power and value of arts into everyday life. In this project, we believe that the participants, within the domain of arts, can understand dementia through different perspectives, nurture empathy for patients and caregivers, and be encouraged to care for their elderly family members and those around them.

“Every Life Is A Song” believes not only that every life deserves a song of their own, but also that everyone is capable of writing songs. Thus, ELIAS has served different communities with “co-creative” workshops to encourage people to express themselves with songs, to co-create with others and ultimately to build connections with each other.

“My Main Stage” provides professional guidance and support to young artists who aspire to develop a music career. The music production team will provide technical support to the creation of songs that embodies the unique story of each family.

Charles K Kao Foundation for Alzheimer’s Disease is dedicated to raising the public’s awareness on Alzheimer’s Disease / dementia and face the disease with a positive attitude. The Foundation provides valuable insights on the direction on the project and facilitates the understanding of participants.