Plenary: Agents of Social ChangeHall A, MECCChair: Jo Besley

Adriane BoagEducator, Youth and Community Programs, National Gallery of Australia

Art and Alzheimer's Outreach Program case study

Art and Alzheimer’s Program

• Dementia is not a normal part of ageing

• An estimated 269,000 Australians currently live with dementia

• One in four people over the age of 85 have dementia

• Each week, there are 1500 new cases of dementia in Australia

• Dementia is the third leading cause of death in Australia, after heart disease and stroke

• Dementia is fatal and, as yet, there is no cure

Information taken from the Alzheimer’s Australia website

National Facts and Figures 2011

The Milky Way near the Southern Cross

A brain affected by Alzheimer’s (left) compared to a healthy brain (right)www.csiro.au/.../0505_phealth/story4.htm The Milky way near the Southern Cross, 1996

Unknown maker Anindilyakwa people, Australia Groote Eylandt Canoe 1965 natural earth pigments and natural string on wood

Aims of an Art and Alzheimer’s Program

• Promote social inclusion

• Provide intellectual stimulation for people living with Dementia

• Improve wellbeing and quality of life

• Promote within the general public a greater awareness of this health issue

• Reduce the social stigma associated with Dementia.

Herbert MCCLINTOCK Three Faces 1940

Painting, oil on canvas on board

Hossein Valamanesh

Falling 1990,

wood, bamboo, sand ,steel, black granite 390 x 55 x 50 cm

Art and Alzheimer’s Outreach Program2010- 2011

• Glasshouse Regional Gallery, Port Macquarie, NSW

• Art Gallery of Ballarat, Victoria

• Newcastle Region Art Gallery, NSW

• New England Regional Art Museum, NSW

• Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, NSW

• Maitland Regional Art Gallery, NSW

• National Gallery of Victoria, Victoria

Art Gallery of Ballarat ‘’ this is important work and an important program – I would like to see it happen nationally ‘

‘ I now understand the need for partnerships with community organisations (in order) to implement and sustain such a program’

‘ this is an area I have little working knowledge of. Following the training I fell motivated to be actively involved in a pilot program at our Gallery”

Quotes from participants in training workshop.

The Glasshouse Gallery Port Macquarie