Memory Connections
For Visitors with Dementia and their Caregivers
On August 8, 2024, the Rubin held its final Memory Connections program in advance of closing the 150 West 17th Street building and transitioning into a global museum on October 6, 2024. We would like to thank the Mellon Foundation and The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism for providing support for this program.
Memory Connections was a free program for people living with dementia and their caregivers. On the second Thursday of every month, trained teaching artists and special performers facilitated an online experience designed to promote engagement between participants and the art and cultures of the Himalayan region.
Historically, the vast array of cultures in the Himalayan region place a strong emphasis on healing through mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom. These teachings informed the Memory Connections program, offering participants the opportunity to experience holistic approaches to healing that take the whole person into consideration.
The program began with 30 minutes of close looking, discussion, and interpretation of traditional and contemporary Himalayan art. Our experienced teaching artists presented objects from the Museum’s collection in a way that was stimulating and interactive, encouraging conversation among participants and cultivating community. We then invited a different special performer each month to guide participants through an activity that supported their physical, mental, and/or emotional well-being. Examples included mindfulness meditation, yoga, healing practices, poetry writing, vocal performances, and art therapy, among others.
