Kieun, Associate Director of Wellbeing and Dementia Services, delivered a compelling and heartfelt practical workshop at the Creative Dementia Conference held at the M Shed in Bristol. Organised by Dementia Community in partnership with the Creative Dementia Arts Network (CDAN), the conference welcomed nearly 150 delegates including creative practitioners, healthcare professionals, academics, carers, and people living with dementia. In her keynote address, Kieun emphasised how creativity can be a lifeline, offering opportunities for self-expression, emotional release and connection.
In her address, Kieun spoke passionately about the power of the arts to transform dementia care. She emphasised the importance of enabling access to creative activities by adapting environments and communication styles to meet individual needs. She highlighted how reminiscence, through familiar music, imagery, and scents, can foster emotional connection and strengthen a person’s sense of self.
The conference provided a full day of keynote talks, plenaries, and live workshops, offering both inspiration and practical tools to support dementia care through the creative arts. It also aimed to challenge the barriers faced by underserved communities, share the latest policy developments and research, and promote inclusive, community-based approaches.
Kieun shared that:
“To ensure people living with dementia, and their care partners, have access to the benefits the arts can bring, it’s vital to focus on enabling elements, reskilling, reminiscence, catharsis, and simply being playful!” 
Dementia Community, a Community Benefit Society established three years ago, joined forces with CDAN, a respected micro-charity, to host this landmark event. Together, they are working to embed creative practice into all aspects of dementia care and to ensure that artistic expression remains accessible, inclusive, and deeply human.
“The conference was incredibly well-received by all participants, as it successfully sparked their curiosity and encouraged practical creativity during the sessions. I was absolutely honoured to be a part of the Creative Dementia Conference and very grateful to the Dementia Community”. Kieun Kwon
