Save to List: boom saloon’s Dementia Friendly global galleries
A world’s worth of recommended spots from our global community
words – boom saloon
For the inaugural tour at the Kunstmuseum Den Haag in the Netherlands, residents of the Nebo care home and their carers looked at four artworks, including Paul Signac’s pointillist ‘Cassis, Cap Lombard, Opus 196’ and Alexej von Jawlensky’s expressionist ‘Head of a Woman.’ “The heart does not get dementia,” Maaike Staffhorst, the museum’s spokesperson, told the Guardian. “People with dementia still have feelings and they can give a sense of fulfilment.”
There are currently more than 944,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers predicted to rise to 1.4million by 2040 – which is why it is imperative that we seek to find new ways, not only of treating dementia, but improving the quality of life of those living with a diagnosis.
Taking inspiration from Kunstmuseum’s innovative exhibition, curated specifically for people living with dementia and their carers, this month’s Save to List shifts the focus from loss and limitation to potential and ability – curating a list of dementia-friendly galleries from around the globe to be enjoyed by all.
01_Art Gallery of Hamilton
Acknowledging that the noise and bustle of public hours can be over-stimulating for some visitors, the Art Gallery of Hamilton offers self-guided Dementia Friendly Days to enjoy a more relaxed, supported visit.
On the third Tuesday of every month, from 11am to 2pm, the gallery reduces sound levels and sensory stimulation from exhibition media and group tours. Program staff provide assistance with navigation and accessibility as requested, along with opportunities to engage with the art on display through conversation and hands-on resources.
02_National Galleries Scotland
The galleries’ programme includes a range of inspiring tours, workshops, concerts and more, designed for – and most importantly, with – people living with dementia.
03_Manchester Museum and Whitworth Art Gallery
All visitor-facing staff at the Manchester Museum and Whitworth Art Gallery attend a Dementia Friends Session to raise awareness and confidence in curating for – and engaging with – people living with dementia. As a result, previous exhibitions such as ‘Beyond Dementia’ have sought to tackle some of the misunderstandings and stigma surrounding the condition, exploring how viewing and making art can be a powerful way of connecting with self and others. Such work continues to this day and ensures the museum and gallery are markers of how to live well with dementia.
04_National Museums Liverpool – House of Memories
House of Memories is a museum-led dementia awareness programme which offers training, access to resources and museum-based activities to enable and support carers to provide person-centred care for people living with dementia during visits.
05_In the Moment – The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery
In the Moment is a dementia-friendly private tour of the Gallery’s exhibitions, followed by coffee and an optional postcard making activity. Participants explore and discuss a small selection of artworks in the gallery while seated in front of the works in an event designed to spark moments of joy, creativity and connection.
06_Leeds Playhouse – Older People initiative
Led by a dedicated group of older people who advise the team on how they can continue to deliver exciting creative opportunities, the Playhouse’s Older People Initiative drives projects including dementia-friendly performances, free resources and the ‘Feeling Good Theatre Company,’ which challenges stereotypes and shares positive stories of ageing.
07_Dulwich Picture Gallery
The gallery’s range of dementia friendly events include creative workshops, creative conversations, networking events and other resources designed specifically for people living with dementia and their carers. Dulwich Picture Gallery is also a partner organisation of the Armchair Gallery, an app that allows those who would struggle to get to museums and art galleries an opportunity to explore collections, take part in activities and use creativity to support their wellbeing.
08_Courtyard Hereford
The UK’s first dementia friendly arts centre holds regular Dementia Friendly film screenings, as well as the Courtyard’s Spectacular Tea Dance, three times a year. They also offer free Dementia Friends information sessions once a month. While you’re there, be sure to check out Café Muse, an initiative to allow veterans living with dementia the opportunity to take part in a range of interactive music workshops to learn or rediscover a new musical skill.
09_Equal Arts
Equal Arts focuses on giving people the opportunity to explore their imagination and live in the moment with initiatives such as creative workshops, book publications, choirs, hen-keeping and much more.
10_Capital Theatres
Capital Theatres regularly hosts dementia-friendly performances, free workshops and creative activities with a team of artists and musicians. They also produce ‘All the World’s a Stage,’ presented by journalist and boom saloon contributor Willy Gilder, who lives with dementia. Each episode showcases a different interest from a member of the dementia-friendly community alongside the various different departments of Capital Theatres.
11_SPARK! National Gallery of Canada
The SPARK! program, launched in 2016, was modelled on the Museum of Modern Art’s well-known Meet Me: The MoMA Alzheimer’s Project. It enables individuals with dementia, and their care partners, to engage with art in a safe, welcoming and social manner. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the virtual SPARK!@Home program was launched in order to enable participants to continue enjoying moments of connection virtually through the Gallery’s works of art, and continues to this day.
A note: We regularly update our site as part of our efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our digital estate. The global emissions from the digital industry are on a par with those from the aviation industry, at almost 2% of total global emissions. What’s worse, this is increasing year on year. In an effort to lessen our impact, we regularly compress and archive previous features as we update our site with new content – something we consider best practice and hope to see more of across the industry. For further information, feel free to get in touch.