Art galleries across Australia have been running programs encouraging people living with dementia and their cares to talk about art – and even create their own artworks.
Now the MCA has created the Artful: Art and Dementia toolkit to take the program out into the community.
The kit contains 10 art marking activities inspired by artworks in the MCA collection, each with step-by-step instructions, an instructional video, questions to help start a conversation about the artwork and extra information about the artist and artwork that inspired the activities, and is designed to last for six months.
The toolkit was developed by the MCA after research by the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney and Dementia Australia showed that the packs had a range of benefits including improved social engagement, mood, wellbeing and quality of life.
The toolkit can be used at home, in aged care homes and in other galleries and is available to buy online priced from $60 for individuals and $200 for organisations
You can find out more and purchase the kit here.