Second Chances: Creative Caregiving Through the Arts While Living with Dementia

with ARTZ Philadelphia

Join LUAG and ARTZ Philadelphia for an inspiring day exploring the power of the arts in dementia care. This interactive program introduces research and real-world examples of how creative expression can support the well-being of individuals living with dementia and their care partners.

Morning Session (10:30-11:30 am): Designed for caregivers and service providers, this session includes a presentation, case studies, and a sample arts-based experience. Advance registration required; limited to 50 participants. Respite care is available for the first 6 registrants who request care services.

Afternoon Session (1:00–2:30 pm): Tailored for activity providers, teaching artists and caregivers interested in arts-based interventions. Participants will engage in facilitated discussion in the gallery and a hands-on art activity with inclusive adaptations for diverse abilities. Advance registration required; limited to 15 participants.

Please register in advance here. Space is limited. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Funding generously provided by the Fleming Foundation and is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $423,000 with 33 percentage funded by ACL/HHS and 66 percentage funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Susan Shifrin is the founder and director of ARTZ Philadelphia. She founded ARTZ Philadelphia in 2013. She is an art historian, curator, educator and arts accessibility advocate. She received her PhD from Bryn Mawr College and has worked on the staffs of a number of large and small museums up and down the East coast. Susan says: “I was inspired to start ARTZ Philadelphia after having hosted a series of workshops and programs for visitors with dementia at the Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College, where I was the Museum’s educator for a number of years. I was profoundly affected as I watched visitors, many in the later stages of dementia, come to life in the Museum as they looked at and talked about art with each other, with me, their caregivers, and the college students who worked at the Museum. It was so moving to watch this transformation in people who, in some cases, had rarely spoken about or shared their lives with others. Art was their vehicle for expression, interaction, creativity, and mutual respect. And for laughter – plenty of laughter.” https://www.phillyvoice.com/artz-philadelphia-art-for-alzheimers/

Hildy Tow is an artist and educator. As the curator of education at Woodmere Art Museum, she has developed a variety of school and studio programs that use works of art and the art making process for learning across all disciplines. She has also been the Woodmere lead in a nearly 12-year partnership with ARTZ Philadelphia, hosting and facilitating art-making experiences for people living with dementia and their care partners in tandem with ARTZ Philly's conversation-based programs in Woodmere's galleries. Hildy has taught in Philadelphia public schools, regional art centers, and has led several teacher workshops. For her, teaching art is a never-ending, expanding adventure in which young and older artists alike are given the freedom and encouragement to explore materials and different processes that enliven their creativity and foster personal growth.

This workshop is part of the Access Culture (AD) series. Access Culture: Building an Inclusive Community in the Arts is a series of free, professional development experiences that will be hosted at Lehigh University Art Galleries. Focused on accessibility and inclusion, Access Culture will facilitate the building of a community of arts professionals in the Lehigh Valley that is equipped with the tools needed to appropriately and effectively engage with audiences with disabilities. Find links to the other events in this series on our events page and join us for one—or all!