- The Community of Madrid will bring 74 concerts and 40 percussion workshops to its public senior residences and centers for people with intellectual disabilities.
- The program, developed in conjunction with the ORCAM Foundation, will benefit more than 7.100 users and will be held in both residential and occupational centers.
- The initiative seeks to promote the emotional, social, and cognitive well-being of residents with activities on special dates and monitoring by a joint committee.
- ORCAM, a leading music organization in Spain, thus reinforces its commitment to cultural accessibility and social inclusion through music.
Bringing live music to those who need it most has become a reality in the Region of Madrid. Through an agreement between the Madrid Social Care Agency (AMAS) and the Orchestra and Choir Foundation of the Community of Madrid (ORCAM), the users of the 28 public nursing homes and centers for people with intellectual disabilities will enjoy a stable program of concerts and musical workshops. Above 7.100 people will be able to benefit from this project, which focuses on cultural accessibility and improving the quality of life.
The agreement launches the celebration of 74 concerts every year, to which are also added 40 percussion workshops in occupational centers. This initiative combines culture, inclusion, and emotional well-being, designed to offer both entertainment and cognitive stimulation to residents and users of public resources managed by AMAS.
A proposal that seeks comprehensive well-being
During the official presentation of the initiative, held at the Vista Alegre Nursing Home (Carabanchel), both the Minister of Family, Youth and Social Affairs, Ana Dávilaand Minister of Culture, Tourism and Sport, Mariano de Paco Serrano, highlighted the positive effects of music among the elderly and people with disabilities. Musical expression helps reduce stress and anxiety, improves memory, boosts self-esteem, and fosters a sense of community.These programs are designed to enliven the daily life of the centers and respond to the preferences and needs of their users.
The opening ceremony featured a performance by a trombone quartet, composed of musicians linked to the Young Orchestra of the Community of Madrid (JORCAM), who offered a short recital to the audience. This highlights the collaboration between cultural and social institutions to transform the daily lives of those living in these assisted living facilities.
Calendar of concerts and musical workshops
The agreement details the implementation of 50 concerts annual in the 25 public nursing homes managed by the autonomy and others 24 recitals in three residential centers for people with intellectual disabilities (eight for each of them). Along with these activities, there will be 40 adapted percussion workshops in five occupational centers, open to users of other AMAS public services.
In addition to the regular concerts, there will be organized special performances on important dates like Christmas or during the annual art exhibition Strokes, which exhibits works created by the residents themselves. All actions are planned jointly and will be subject to ongoing evaluation by a joint commission, responsible for ensuring the quality and impact of the program.
