The National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) is inviting arts and cultural
organisations across the UK to support the National Day of Arts in Care Homes on
Thursday 24th September 2026.
Artists, museums, galleries, theatres, orchestras, libraries, heritage organisations
and community arts groups are being encouraged to connect with local care settings
and help make creative opportunities accessible to people receiving care.
The theme for 2026 is “Stories That Connect Us”, celebrating the power of creativity
to share experiences, express identity, spark imagination and build connections
between people, generations, cultures and communities.
Stories can take many forms. They may be personal or shared, remembered or
imagined, and expressed through visual art, music, theatre, dance, photography,
writing, spoken word, digital media or other creative forms.
The National Day offers arts organisations an opportunity to establish new
relationships with care communities, strengthen existing partnerships and recognise
people living and working in care settings as artists, makers, performers, audiences
and cultural contributors.
Arts and cultural organisations could support the campaign by:
Partnering with a local care home on a creative project.
Providing an artist-led workshop, performance or creative exchange.
Offering an accessible visit, virtual experience or handling collection.
Sharing materials, activity ideas or specialist knowledge.
Connecting care settings with local artists and cultural networks.
Promoting the National Day through newsletters and social-media channels.
Supporting longer-term creative partnerships beyond the National Day.
NAPA encourages arts partners to co-design their activities with residents, Activity
Providers and care teams. Successful partnerships begin with people’s interests,
identities, experiences, ideas and stories and recognise the creativity, skills and
kknowledge already present within care communities.
Hilary Woodhead CEO at NAPA, said: “Arts and cultural organisations have an
important role to play in ensuring that creative opportunities are available to people
throughout their lives. The National Day of Arts in Care Homes is an invitation to
build genuine partnerships with care communities. These partnerships should
recognise residents as creative people with ideas, experiences and stories of their
own. We hope arts organisations across the country will reach out to care settings in
their communities and begin conversations that continue long after 24th September.”
Organisations can use NAPA’s free Get Involved Pack and campaign resources to
shape their contribution. On the day, partners are encouraged to share their activities
using #AICH2026 and tag NAPA, while respecting each participant’s choices about
publicity.
The invitation is open to national institutions and community-based organisations
alike. A single, carefully planned creative session can make a difference; an ongoing
partnership can create a legacy that continues well beyond 24th September.
Further information and free resources are available at:
National Day – NAPA Activity Providers
