Skate park art marks elder abuse day

A PUBLIC art initiative has brought pockets of colour to the grey Ballarat Skate Park.

Launched last week in line with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Art Across the Ages project has been produced by young and old creators, with the support of Ballarat Community Health.

BCH arts and wellbeing coordinator Alisa Tanika-King said the aim of the artwork is to unite different generations and encourage respect between them.

“The public artwork at the skate park is the culmination of creative and colourful ideas from participants in our intergenerational art workshops,” she said.

“It brings together local teenagers and people over 65 to make their mark on a public Ballarat space that is so important to the community.

“The workshops have allowed participants to share an unlikely friendship with people who are not part of their generation, and work together to create something that can be shared with the public.

“The skate park itself is an intergenerational gathering place that welcomes young children, teens, adults, parents, grandparents, people of all generations.

“This artwork celebrates a free community space and the people who share it. It highlights the importance of art, colour, and creating something together as a fundamental part of building a stronger community,”

A statement from BCH emphasised the need to condemn and prevent elder abuse.

“Incidents of abuse towards older people is predicted to increase as many countries experience rapidly ageing populations; a global issue affecting the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world,” the statement said.