Artful Moments: Shared Learning – Supporting the Development of Museum Programs for People with Dementia across Canada
Museums and Wellbeing
Museums are stepping confidently into program opportunities that support far more than just knowledge of art, history, or myriad other traditional content-driven narratives. Social responsibility, along with health and well-being, are two of the most important new areas of focus that we are more than ready to address with innovative experiences and conversation-centres for our communities.
Collectively, we know that medical and social care systems face growing pressures. We are also starting to understand that museums offer unique, non-clinical settings that can support social, emotional, and even physical well-being by providing opportunities to explore complex experiences, create meaning, demonstrate capacity, build networks of care and support, foster creativity, and combat stigma and exclusion.
It is through this understanding that the Art Gallery of Hamilton is working to share our experience, gathered over the past 15 years of program delivery, with our peers and colleagues to help grow the impact that museums are making, specifically for people living with dementia.
Success Through Engagement and Focusing on People
Artful Moments began in 2011 in a pilot project in collaboration with one of Hamilton’s hospitals. Over a year-long project, we facilitated arts-based conversations and hands-on activities for participants with advanced dementia, together with a family member or friend.
Our evaluation confirmed the powerful impact that could be made in offering meaningful engagement, social connection and improved wellbeing. Since then, the program has grown to reach numerous different audiences. Throughout each program, a focus on supporting the strengths and experiencing the enjoyment of the process has led to a proven methodology that ensures success.
Our success comes from the way that we work with our collection, but even more, from the way we work with people. Our approach is grounded in a person-centred philosophy. Resonant with Freeman Tilden’s foundational ideas on interpretation, our work prioritizes provocation, curiosity, and personal connection over the transmission of content. While the language of a ‘person-centred’ practice is more recent, its principles have long guided our work: shared authority, responsiveness to participants, and openness to multiple narratives.
It is through this shift away from a focus on content to a model that measures success through engagement and connection that we see positive impacts being made on participants’ well-being. Participation in museum programs offers opportunities for people who may not be asked what they think as often as they’d like; validation of the ideas and identities demonstrated through participation; and a chance to connect with others – loved ones and new friends – in a safe, inclusive space. It is in these experiences that we see strengths, agency, and enjoyment.
A New Learning Opportunity
Thanks to funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada – Dementia Strategic Fund in 2023, and current funding from the Canada Council for the Arts – Sector Innovation Fund, we have developed a curriculum and coaching program to help support other museums in the creation of their own programs, informed by our experience but centered on the collections, expertise, and activities that make each museum unique.
Artful Moments: Shared Learning is an eLearning curriculum, the compilation of our research and learning over the past 15 years. By visiting www.artfulmoments.ca, museum teams can navigate through six modules of lessons and activities that capture what worked for us. The site is self-directed and free to use. For some museums, this may be enough to get started, but at the AGH, we love to connect with colleagues. As a more recent evolution, we have expanded the curriculum into a full coaching program where we will work with small cohorts of museum staff to guide you through the curriculum and work closely with you to develop a program plan that is ready to go for your first program.
The Museum Coaching and Collaboration program builds on the curriculum, where we shift the focus to each participating museum – looking closely at your exhibitions and collections, your museum site and community, your activities and expertise to grow, adapt, and expand your work into a person-centred, dementia-friendly initiative that is uniquely yours. The program will be presented virtually over seven sessions, with additional opportunities to connect with the AGH team and with other colleagues in the museum field, to ask questions, try out ideas, and finish with a program plan that is ready to implement.
Thanks to Canada Council for the Arts funding, we’re offering this program to 25 museums across Canada starting in February 2026. A fee of $500 per museum for teams includes printed textbooks and a workbook, seven virtual coaching sessions with museum and healthcare specialists, and ongoing consultation. For more information, please reach out to artfulmoments@artgalleryofhamilton.com, and to register for your spot, please complete the registration form: Shared Learning Coaching Program Registration – Fill out form.
Don’t forget to view additional educational programs through the Art Gallery of Hamilton, by clicking HERE.
