Art & Gardens As a Lifeline
The Cummer Museum’s Artful Moments Program
By Kim Kuta Dring, Director of Learning and Engagement, Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Art is more than a luxury; it is a lifeline—a vital tool for improving well-being, especially for older adults facing cognitive challenges. Studies show that engaging with arts and aesthetic experiences can benefit our brain health, creating new neural pathways and improving cognitive function. For older adults and individuals living with dementia, these benefits can be profound. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is at the forefront of harnessing the therapeutic power of the arts and aesthetic experiences through its Artful Moments program.
Artful Moments is a welcoming, dementia-friendly experience designed specifically to provide people living with dementia and their family caregivers with a unique and welcoming visit at the museum. The program, a strategic collaboration between the Cummer Museum and the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative Jacksonville Task Force (DCCI)—including partners ElderSource and Mayo Clinic’s Memory Disorder Clinic—is part of a larger effort to create a dementia-friendly community.
Through specially trained staff and a focus on close-looking and conversation, Artful Moments tours encourage participants to engage with artworks and gardens on a personal level and invite them to tap into their curiosities. This can lead to a range of benefits, including reduced feelings of anxiety, agitation, and depression; improved mental stimulation and calmness; enhanced social behavior and self-esteem; tapping into personal memories; and facilitating verbal and non-verbal communication.
