Teaching Artist Training: Dementia-Friendly Arts Engagement Application | October 2026

Designed for teaching artists who are interested leading dementia-friendly creative programs in the community, this training workshop will provide valuable research, resources, and hands-on demonstrations from facilitators experienced in both supporting and engaging people with memory loss in gallery and art studio settings. Topics will include understanding different types of dementia and best practices for creating empowering arts engagement with participants.

Requirements: Participants must have experience working as a teaching artist in a museum, classroom, or community setting. This program is intended for artists with an interest in facilitating dementia-friendly arts-based learning experiences—that is, programs or activities focused on discussing or making art with people living with dementia and their care partners. The training will feature Frye-contracted teaching artists and program facilitators with many years of experience working with this audience and facilitating programs on behalf of the Frye Art Museum.

In addition to the 10 am–3 pm workshop on October 9, we will offer a supplemental session for interested participants on November 13 from 10 am–1 pm. Participating teaching artists are strongly encouraged to develop and author an original dementia-friendly art activity and submit it for feedback during a small group critique with featured presenting artists and Frye Creative Aging staff. We will survey participants at the end of the October workshop to gauge interest toward the second event.

Please note: Acceptance and participation in this training do not secure future employment with the Frye. This workshop does not offer accreditation toward any professional licensure program.

Application open through August 21. Applicants will be notified by September 11.

Application Questions:

Please provide the following information (all responses required):

Name

Preferred Pronouns

Address

City

State

ZIP

Phone Number

Please answer the following questions to help us learn more about your experience and interest in this training:

What draws you to this training and to working with people living with dementia and their care partners? Why are you interested in doing this training at the Frye? After completing the training, how do you envision integrating what you learn into your teaching practice? (Max word count 250)

How long have you worked as a teaching artist, and with what audiences? Please share examples of the kinds of programs, classes, or events you have facilitated and the context and audience for those experiences. (Max word count 250)

Please submit up to 3 images (in a single file) of projects, activities, or lessons you have facilitated as a teaching artist. In the box below, include a brief description of the audience, context, and a reflection explaining your examples.

One file only.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: jpg, jpeg, png, pdf.

Description of your file(s). (Max word count 250)