here:now is an outreach program of the Frye Art Museum for individuals living with dementia and their care partners to enjoy a creative and relaxing afternoon together. The only museum- based arts program of its kind in Washington State, here:now offers gallery tours and art-making classes designed for individuals with young-onset or early to mid-stage dementia and their care partners. The Frye Art Museum also presents professional development workshops, conferences, and lectures on the topic of art, creativity, and dementia.

As a free art museum, the Frye Art Museum is dedicated to serving the needs of its immediate neighborhood—particularly adults who have been homeless, the health care community, and older adults—through a robust offering of public programs. Our intention in these programs is to foster deep civic engagement with the community, create a strong, positive sense of place, unite disparate parts of the community in constructive ways, and influence the community’s health and wellbeing.

Two years ago, recognizing the dramatic increase of Alzheimer’s disease and the aging population of the Frye’s visitors, the Museum explored the idea of offering an arts program for persons with dementia and their care partners. Inspired by Meet Me at MoMA, a program started at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, in 2005, the Frye developed a creative alliance with the Alzheimer’s Association and Elderwise, a Seattle nonprofit focused on cultural enrichment and art-making for older adults. The pilot of here:now was launched in fall 2010.

here:now has evolved into two offerings for individuals with dementia and their care partners: a monthly discussion-based gallery tour and a six-session class which includes a gallery tour and studio art-making experience. Funded by the Frye Foundation, both programs are offered free of charge. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

Programs are led by a specially trained museum educator and a teaching artist. Gallery discussion highlights themes in artworks on view in the Frye galleries, for example “The Great Outdoors” or “The Family.” The museum educator uses a conversation-based approach to teaching in which there are no right or wrong answers. The exchange of ideas doesn’t rely on short-term memory or recall of art historical information. The art-making sessions encourage experimentation with watercolor paints, collage, and clay. A short coffee social concludes each class.

here:now does not focus on the sense of loss that might be a typical response when people are dealing with dementia. Being in the Museum is a time and space where there’s hope. We emphasize what people are able to do, and draw upon their strengths as individuals, regardless of their diagnosis. When we witness people who are affected by dementia sharing in basic aspects of human experience—community, self-expression, joy—we know that these programs are resonating.

A formal study of here:now is currently being conducted by Dr. Lee Burnside, staff physician of internal medicine at Virginia Mason and medical director of Horizon House. As a fellow in geriatric medicine at UW Harborview, Dr. Burnside is studying the impact of here:now on participants’ quality of life and on relationships between the person with dementia and their care partner.

Art, Creativity, and Living with Dementia

On November 16, 2010, the Frye presented Art, Creativity, and Living with Dementia, a one-day conference focusing on how viewing, discussing, and creating art can enhance the lives of people with dementia. Geared toward professionals serving people with dementia, educators and programmers from arts and cultural organizations, and care partners, Art, Creativity, and Living with Dementia featured lectures and training by national experts on creative strategies for developing an arts engagement program for individuals with dementia and their care partners. Visit Art, Creativity, and Living with Dementia to read a participant's reflections on the conference.

Photos: Jill Hardy