Visiting galleries

The Museum of Modern Art in New York have announced a nationwide expansion of its outreach program for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease. This new initiative, The MoMA Alzheimer’s Project: Making Art Accessible to People with Dementia, builds on the success of the Museum’s Meet Me at MoMA program, which brings people with Alzheimer’s and other dementia, along with their caregivers, to the Museum for interactive tours of masterworks from the collection.

MoMA educators have learned that the act of looking at art can be a rich and satisfying experience for people without full access to their memory, thus providing relaxation and pleasure for those who live with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

Meet Me at MoMA gives those living with the degenerative disease an expressive outlet and forum for dialogue through guided tours and discussion in the Museum's galleries during non-public hours. Specially trained Museum educators engage participants in lively dialogue by focusing in depth on iconic art from the collection, including works by such modern masters as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol. More than 1,500 individuals living with dementia have participated in the program, which is held monthly and offered free of charge.   

The MoMA Alzheimer’s Project will develop program models that can be adapted by other museums, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and Alzheimer’s Associations.

"We have seen through the Museum's Meet Me at MoMA program how visual art offers people who have Alzheimer's or other dementia an entry for communication and an opportunity for engagement, not only with art, but with their caregivers, loved ones, and society at large,” said Francesca Rosenberg, Director of Community and Access Programs at MoMA.

The following resources will eventually be available.

1. Publication
The Museum plans to produce a publication that will equip caregivers and museum professionals with methods for making art accessible to people with Alzheimer's disease. Francesca Rosenberg, director of Community and Access Programs, will write an introduction to the text, and experts in the field of Alzheimer's will make contributions, including essays and technical review. Multiple copies will be made available to the Alzheimer's Association chapters nationwide, as well as to assisted living facilities, nursing homes, museums, and art centers nationally. 

2. Web site
A Web-based resource will include videos of people with Alzheimer's responding to art, with tips on teaching methodology and techniques for best practice. The Web site will function as a resource providing information on successful tours, lessons plans, and thematic ideas, as well as essays and testimonials.