Focusing on the now: An art tour for people with dementia

 
Posted by QAGOMA   ●   1 Feb 2019

ABC RN Producer Wendy Love takes us on a Gallery tour that is about more than just the art. QAGOMA’s Art and Dementia tours offer people living with dementia a chance to socialise, learn, and create their own artworks. The goal is to create a safe and respectful space for people with dementia to visit the Gallery with their carers or loved ones and talk about art. But more than that, being able to spend a good amount of time with an artwork can act as a springboard, triggering memories or feelings we hadn’t felt for a while, or make us feel connected to something we remember from the past.

Listen to Wendy Love talk us through the Program

QAGOMA’s Art and Dementia program was developed in 2014 and is tailored specifically for people living with dementia. The power of art unlocks the imagination, is able to elicit memories and feelings, sparks new ideas and discussions, and for people living with dementia and their care partners offers a new space to connect with the artwork and each other.

QAGOMA’s free discussion-based tours aim to support reminiscence, validation and socialisation and focuses on specially selected artworks. Two of the works selected to trigger conversations on this tour was The Blue Alice by Charles Blackman and Morning ride by Kenneth Macqueen.

ABC RN Producer Wendy Love spoke on The Art Show in 2018 (formerly The Hub on Art) presented by Ed Ayres

READ MORE: Art and Dementia Tours

Taking in the bursts of colour in Charles Blackman’s The Blue Alice 1956-57 / Tempera, oil and household enamel on composition board / 122 x 122cm / Purchased 2000. The Queensland Government’s special Centenary Fund / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Charles Blackman. Licensed by Viscopy
Kenneth Macqueen 1897-1960 / Morning ride c.1946 / Watercolour over pencil on paper / 40.9 x 50cm / Purchased 2006. Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Kenneth Macqueen Estate
Using inspiration from the paintings participants create their own artworks

BOOK A FREE TOUR

Bookings in advance are required and are subject to availability and tour capacity. Tours are suitable for people living at home, for community and day respite groups or residential aged care homes. Contact the Group Bookings Office at groupbookings@qagoma.qld.gov.au or telephone (07) 3840 7255 to arrange a booking for the next tour.

Know Brisbane through the QAGOMA Collection / Delve into our Queensland Stories / Read more about Australian Art / Subscribe to QAGOMA YouTube to go behind-the-scenes

Feature image: QAGOMA’s Art and Dementia program 
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Comments

  1. I’d like to bring my client friend to this Dementia tour. Jill has been several times before. I’d like to know what days & times are available & she’s excited to have the morning tea!

  2. Hi Melissa. We have passed your query on to our Access staff to make contact. In the meantime, bookings in advance are required and are subject to availability and tour capacity. At least 15 days’ booking notice is usually required. You can contact our Bookings Office on groupbookings@qagoma.qld.gov.au or telephone (07) 3840 7255 to speak to someone in the team. We hope this helps. Regards QAGOMA

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