I knew as a care partner how devastating that was and how difficult it was to go out in public.”

Susan Shifrin, founder, ARTZ Philadelphia

There are plenty of negative words and phrases used to describe dementia. Conditions that cause memory loss are often called “a living death,” while the people impacted by these illnesses are “slipping away.” So, when ARTZ Philadelphia – a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for people living with dementia – puts on its programs, one might assume that the mood is low. According to Susan Shifrin, founder of the organization, this could not be further from the truth.

“I would say a good half of every program is spent laughing,” Shifrin says.

This joy-filled approach is the cornerstone of ARTZ Philadelphia’s philosophy. As devastating as dementia can be, the organization’s members live by the slogan: “Dementia doesn’t have the power. You do.”

A foundation of care

Shifrin cites two catalysts that led to the creation of ARTZ Philadelphia in 2013. First, as the Director of Education for a college museum, Shifrin was approached by a social worker from a local continuing care retirement community. The social worker asked Shifrin if she could develop a way for those in the memory care unit to come to the museum, just like those in the independent living section could. Shifrin’s response was yes, but she did not want to take it lightly. 

“For people with dementia, because going out into the community is already so hard, we needed to make sure that whatever we offered them was very thought through and that we received training to deliver programs,” Shifrin says.

The results were a revelation. Generally withdrawn participants came to life in unexpected ways, even getting into animated debates with others about the artwork they were seeing.

The other inciting factor was more personal: Shifrin’s own mother had been diagnosed with dementia.

“I knew as a care partner how devastating that was and how difficult it was to go out in public,” Shifrin says. Thus, Shifrin started ARTZ Philadelphia.

There are only two full-time staff members at ARTZ Philadelphia: Shifrin and Shane Farrell, the director of programs. However, working with board members as well as part-time and contract facilitators, the organization puts on an impressive amount of free programs. 

How it works

An ARTZ Philadelphia event typically includes gathering a small group of people with dementia, along with their caregivers, to sit and look at some selected pieces of art. Then they talk about it – in an open-ended way that follows the thought process of the participants. 

“ARTZ Notes” is a music program, which may include live performances, conversations, sing-alongs, and movement. The lead facilitator, Keisha Hutchins Hirlinger, typically runs the event at Summit Presbyterian Church in Mt. Airy.

Under the umbrella of “ARTZ @ the Museum,” many events revolve around art centers in the Philadelphia area. Many are held at Woodmere, as well as the Brandywine Museum of Art in Chadds Ford and the Barnes Foundation in Center City. 

“[Woodmere] is our home away from home,” Shifrin says. “That’s the museum we started with. They are our lab for trying new things. I think I can count on one finger the number of times they’ve said, ‘No, you can’t do that here.’”

But it’s not just about art. ARTZ Philadelphia also runs healthcare mentoring programs, including “ARTZ @ Jefferson.” Healthcare students and professionals are paired with people living with dementia and their care partners so that they can learn about their firsthand experiences and use them to guide their future in an empathetic way. The organization also runs “Cafés for Care Partners” – in locations such as Center in the Park in Germantown – for care partners in need of respite.

Remarkable results

For Shifrin, the goal of ARTZ Philadelphia has always been to provide people with dementia and their caregivers an opportunity to rebuild a sense of community often lost when they are diagnosed. She also hopes the nonprofit can make progress in dismantling the stigmas associated with the condition. Someone with dementia is often stripped of their agency, she said, and she seeks to give them back their power. If a participant wants to look at a painting that isn’t on the agenda, for instance, facilitators will happily change plans to look at that painting.

Shifrin and Farrell say the results are remarkable. Farrell recalls a participant named Don, who summed it all up when he said: “The beauty of this experience is not only the beauty of the artwork we get to look at, but even more so the experience of sharing our observations with each other. It opens up doors infinitely.”

Another favorite memory of Farrell’s occurred when a nonverbal woman named Claudine attended a music program. Although she was initially having a hard time settling down, as soon as the music started Claudine began singing the words and dancing. 

“[ARTZ Philadelphia] is a chance for anyone, despite what they’re experiencing, to find a way to embrace life, find joy, and not be defined by a diagnosis they’ve received,” Farrell says. “It’s one drop in the bucket of making the world a bit more of an equitable and understanding place.”

In the future, Shifrin hopes that the organization will expand in the Greater Philadelphia region and into South Jersey, as well as hire more facilitators and create more programs. But, for now, the team at ARTZ Philadelphia is committed to carrying out their mission and positively impacting as many people as possible – and experiencing joy along the way.

If you’re looking to donate, volunteer, or learn more about ARTZ Philadelphia, visit artzphilly.org.