Art in Dialogue
On June 10, the United Way Lehigh Valley, LUAG and ARTZ Philadelphia partnered to offer an inspiring day exploring the power of the arts in dementia care. Presented by Susan Shifrin, found and director of ARTZ Philadelphia, this interactive program introduced research and real-world examples of how creative expression can support the well-being of individuals living with dementia and their care partners. Designed for caregivers and service providers, this recording includes a presentation, case studies, and a sample arts-based experience.
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.
View and download a copy of Susan Shifrin's Powerpoint presentation here.
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/
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!
