Art Fights Dementia

Published on 17 August 2015

Alzheimer’s Australia (Qld) is partnering with Rockhampton Art Gallery to pilot an eight week Art and Dementia program. 

Aiming to promote well-being and enhance quality of life through engagement with the visual arts, the program will build arts and health partnerships to improve care for people living with dementia.

Councillor Rose Swadling, Chair of Communities and Patron of Azar House, a dementia unit at Leinster Place, said “Programs like this are so important to our community because people living with dementia can reconnect to their sense of identity and are encouraged to contribute in discussions about the artworks here on display at Rockhampton Art Gallery.”

Rockhampton Art Gallery will work with community based health professionals and residential care providers to provide the trial program.

Judy Nutley of the Dementia Support Unit of Alzheimer’s Australia (Qld) says “The pilot program will provide people living with dementia opportunities to connect with the world in life-enhancing ways and combat the isolation often experienced as the disease progresses.”

The program follows successful models implemented nationally. Trained guides will involve the groups looking, discussing and interpreting 3-4 works of art on display in an inquiry based experience. This week the groups will look at works by local artists Peta Lloyd, Veronica Zeil and Ainslie McMahon who all currently feature in exhibitions at Rockhampton Art Gallery.

This September is Dementia Awareness month.

Rockhampton Art Gallery is owned and operated by Rockhampton Regional Council.