Smithsonian American Art Museum

Through this DEAI breakout, learn about virtual programs offering emotional and cognitive support to individuals with memory loss and their care partners. Emphasis is on providing enriching experiences, enhancing verbal and non-verbal communication, and building partnerships with teaching artists such as musicians, poets, storytellers and visual artists.

Presenters: Sara Shoob, Geoffrey Cohrs

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City

Explore the steps to build a program for this unique and under-served audience. Or infuse an existing program with fresh ideas and hands-on activities. Brainstorm ideas and share resource materials to tailor to your own setting.

Denver Art Museum

Whether you’re creating a program where none has existed or expanding an existing one, find the
tools necessary to develop a comprehensive program. Discussion topics include accessibility audit,
funding, docent recruitment and training. Using audience participation and hands-on material,
experience activities for people with memory loss or those who have low or no vision.

Presenters: Robin Stolp, Anne Stellmon

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Come away with shoe-string budget techniques offered to visitors with a variety of challenges. Examine docent-created tactile boards, grab and go bags, props, audio and music enhancements, original verbal descriptions used with “white glove” touch tours, and bench tours for those with limited mobility, including students and adults of all ages.

Presenters:  JeanMarie Burtness, Nancy Kelly, Fran Megarry

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO

Discover how whole-part-whole-learning theory and other conceptual and practical ideas can reinvigorate your tours for people with visual challenges, making the tours more interactive and
audience-centered. Topics include working with community partners and staff to develop tours, making the tour a "journey of discovery," and creating hands-on materials and gallery activities. 

Presenters:  Pegeen Blank, David Figiel

Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Museum of African Art

Two museums have inaugurated a program for the growing population of those with memory lossand their care partners. Sharing strategies for providing enriching opportunities for visitors to connectand engage personally with a variety of artworks, we will include practical tips and logistics forimplementing learning and interaction.

Presenters: Betsy Hennigan, Nancy LeBaron, Sara Shoob, Sula Tyler

Everson Museum of Art

An outreach committee in a designated refugee resettlement city can find ways to transcend the
barriers that divide us in society. Lessons based on our collection and engagement with local
organizations demonstrate how art can be the catalyst for change and hope.

Presenters: Evelyn Fiorenza, Ellen Hardy, Marilyn Post, and Linda Blanding

High Museum of Art

How can docents support the expansion of welcome to all visitors by anticipating, considering, and accommodating the needs of museum guests? We provide a chronology of the inception and development of the special needs tours, focusing on docent participation and preparation by sharing tour strategies, cautions, successes and guidelines.

Presenter: Karen Lanning

Toledo Museum of Art

How can you connect visual literacy concepts with medical school curriculum? We introduce activities highlighting common visual biases and invite participants to connect these to the practice of medicine. Learn ways to develop and implement these activities for any group of professionals who use close looking, listening and communication skills.

Presenters: Colleen Barron, Louise Lowenstein

San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, TX

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of a docent-driven multisensory tour program that has gained popularity at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Using detailed descriptions, scents, music, and tactile models in the tours docents enhance the Museum experience for visitors who are blind or visually impaired. The presentation focuses on the creative process, training methodology, tour components, outreach strategies and evaluation methods. It includes a practical demonstration of our approach to art.

Presenters: Norma Gomez-Perez, Elisa Denham, Mary Hogan

Theme Category: Community Outreach