Engaging the Elders: Helsingborg’s Living History Project Strengthens Roots and Community

One of these initiatives called History Comes Alive is organized by the Helsingborg Museum. They are testing a completely new format for the theatre walks at the open-air museum, co-creating the content together with seniors and actively involving them in the performances.

Seniors are one of Helsingborg Museum’s prioritized target groups and History Comes Alive is a collaboration with them in the script work, allowing to contribute memories and diary entries to enrich the stories and give them authenticity.

“We have had engaging conversations and shared many laughs with the seniors. The conversations have focused on their youth life and changes in the cityscape of Helsingborg from the 1940s to the 1970s. If you want to bring more joy into your life – ask the seniors the right questions!” shares History Comes Alive Project manager Charlotte Alheim.

The goal is to offer museum visitors understanding and recognition of the place and its history across generations. And it is a great opportunity for elderlies to share their life stories and making them meaningful for the whole society. This active cultural participation fulfils another project goal – preventing loneliness amongst the elderly.

“The seniors realized how fun it was to reminisce about buildings and places they used to go out to. This gave them new topics of conversation – they compared experiences, shared stories about the places they visited, how they dressed, and which artists they liked. Some of the seniors may have seen each other before but had never spoken. Many expressed a desire to meet more often, preferably across generations,” project organisers confirm.

The process of the content co-creation is in progress and the museum team is meeting and capturing memories of the older generation of Helsingborg, but the theatre walks based on these stories will take place in summer 2026.

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