Author: InteractionSeeds
Co-Creating the Future of Elderly Care: An Artistic Intervention in Sweden Sparks Public Dialogue
How a unique workshop by the InteractionSeeds project blends art, research, and public engagement to reimagine ageing.
As Europe faces the mounting challenge of an ageing population, new approaches are needed to rethink how societies deliver care, foster inclusion, and prepare for demographic shifts. The Swedish city of Gothenburg was home to the most recent initiative from the InteractionSeeds research project, funded by the European Union. This initiative used art and performance to ignite public reflection on the future of elderly care.
Hosted by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, this innovative workshop blurred the lines between research, performance, and civic dialogue. At its core: a participatory experience designed to help people emotionally connect with their aging process and voice their hopes for the future.
Co-Creation in Healthcare: From Lab to Living Room
The event embodied InteractionSeeds’ mission to foster co-creation between artists, researchers, and the public. It was not just an exhibit—it was a living installation inside a Swedish museum. A multilingual performance artist welcomed participants into a dramatically lit, immersive space resembling a “dramatically” designed dining room, where guests imagined themselves as elderly and explored themes of autonomy, care, and connection.
“The goal was to move beyond technical solutions,” explained the project team, “and to offer a human-centred, emotionally engaging experience.”
This kind of embodied design research allows the public, scientists and artists to step into speculative futures—not as observers, but as active participants.
Elderly Care Innovation Through Performance Art
On Day 1, a curated group of participants—including students, developers, and healthcare professionals—engaged in a one-hour guided experience. Through symbolic “courses” of a meal, they reflected on questions such as:
- What will it feel like to be old?
- What kind of elderly care do we want in the future?
- How can we ensure elderly care is humane, inclusive, and resilient?
A local photographer captured their responses visually, staging and documenting the experience. These photos became the centerpiece of the following day’s exhibit.
Art Meets Public Policy: A Pop-Up Exhibit for All Generations
Day 2 opened the space to the general public, including school groups and older citizens. More than 60 visitors aged between 8 and 70 interacted with the installation. The performance artist guided them individually or in small groups, helping them reflect on their ageing process, and to write down their personal hopes for the future of care.
“It’s very hard to grasp that you are thinking about this for yourself in the future—not for someone else,” said one participant.
Why This Matters: Humanising the Future of Elderly Care
Sweden is a leader in adopting technological solutions for elderly care, but this reliance can risk dehumanizing care or exacerbating social inequalities. The workshop created space to confront those challenges in a meaningful way.
For local authorities and industry leaders, this initiative demonstrates a replicable model for public engagement in healthcare innovation. It brings diverse stakeholders—researchers, citizens, creatives—into the same room to co-create visions of ageing that are compassionate and inclusive.
A Blueprint for Policy and Industry
InteractionSeeds is calling on municipalities, policymakers, and industry players to take notice. This event shows how artistic collaboration can surface untapped insights, open hearts, and ultimately influence how care systems evolve.
