What is ARTZ in the Making?
ARTZ Philadelphia’s ARTZ in the Making program is one of the flagship programs of the organization, engaging people living with dementia (PLWD) in hands-on art-making in multiple media. In the nine years of the program, people living in residential long-term care and attending day and senior centers have demonstrated through their creations their remarkable imaginativeness and creativity—ultimately, they have shown that they are very much still here.
During COVID the program was suspended, as we were unable to bring the program into facilities and centers. So we replaced it with ARTZ Kits, a series of art projects that can be delivered directly to care communities and to people living in their own homes. Now both ARTZ Kits and ARTZ in the Making are available to our community members.
What inspired you to grapple with dementia?
I founded ARTZ Philadelphia in 2013, approximately 12 years after my mother had been diagnosed with dementia and two years after I was asked to develop an arts-based program for PLWD in a community nursing home a few minutes away from the college museum at which I was Associate Director for Education.
How has building programs for people living with dementia changed you?
Prior to founding ARTZ Philadelphia, I had spent most of my career teaching college-aged students and doing curatorial work in museums. I continue to teach college-aged and graduate students as the director of ARTZ @ Jefferson, a mentoring program in which students across the health professions are mentored by PLWD and their care partners. This one-of-a-kind program embodies all that I have learned—that PLWD are PEOPLE first, with rich histories, stories to tell, and wisdom to impart. I have learned more from the community of people with dementia and their care partners in 12 years than I learned in the 50 years that came before.
How has the work been received?
From the very beginning, our community members have been remarkably generous with their unsolicited testimonials.
Here is a selection:
ARTZ @ Jefferson mentor (care partner): “P. was so elated after our last meeting [with the students]. The idea that someone is actually interested in listening to what we have to say is amazing. Our experience [with healthcare professionals] is usually about their looking at their watches and saying ‘Well, that’s it, I need to move on to the next patient.’ We really appreciate this opportunity.”
PLWD about ARTZ in the Making: “It feels like freedom. I can do whatever I want.”
Care community partner for ARTZ Kits: “I wanted to let you know we recently completed one of the ARTZ Kits. The residents had a wonderful time and the instructions were easy to follow. The kits are fantastic!”
Find more information on ARTZ Philly’s website, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
