AWE

AWE (Art With Equity)

Vision: 

Bringing joy and purpose to lives.

Mission:  

Enhance quality of life through therapeutic art and music programming.

Values:

Collaboration - We value partnerships, teamwork, and inclusion.

Respect - We meet people where they are at with compassion, kindness and non-judgement. 

Integrity - We act with honesty, transparency, and accountability.

Excellence - We offer bold and innovative therapeutic art and music experiences using a person-centred approach.

ART WITH EQUITY - PROGRAM SYNOPSIS

Step 1

Project Joy  

Serving the citizens of Medicine Hat by delivering person-centred therapeutic art and music programming to residents in LTC.

We understand staff in health care - in this case Long Term Care (LTC) - is under-staffed, funds are tight, stress levels are high.  The AWE team wants to help by incorporating programming which promotes/maintains brain health and quality of life for residents without making the job harder for LTC staff.

What AWE requires from a LTC home for success:

• Space to facilitate the program

• Storage space for supplies

• Staff to help participants arrive on time to the art session

• Wall space to hang artwork 

If the LTC facility has activity workers/rec staff that can attend; wonderful!  But we will supply facilitators and volunteers for all sessions.

Previous to program implementation, the AWE team will:

• Develop an understanding of the unique needs of each Care Home; Residents, Staff and Families.

• Meet with relevant LTC staff members to be familiarized with potential art participants: history, preferences and ability levels. 

• Discuss in what capacity staff would like to be involved.

We are seeking to pilot this program by initially collaborating with 2 LTC Homes.

• 2 large population care homes; 2 sessions a week

• One session for residents who have low-no cognitive issues. 

• A second session for those with more complex cognitive issues. 

Physical ability levels are not an issue as the programming will be geared to adapt to physical needs. ALL ability levels, cognitive and physical, will be taken into consideration for residents to experience success.

After 4 months, we will be seeking to partner with an additional, small LTC:   1 session each week with mixed ability levels.

Program will be:

*Low Skill

*High attunement - Supportive, loving, predictable, attentive, presence of attuned art facilitators, creating the environment where participants feel safe in the world, engage in relationships, and claim space in society.

*Dignified - age, ability level and culturally appropriate

*Person-centred - Meet the unique needs of every individual for successful outcomes

Program will incorporate:

*Productive Engagement (rather than Receptive Engagement). That is; 

problem solving/decision making vs passive participation.

*The 8 ‘C’s  Community, connection, creativity, confidence, clarity, calm, courage and (self) compassion

*And The 5 ‘P’s  Presence, Persistence, Perspective, Playfulness, Patience 

Program will take place:

*1x per week for each group

*3 x’s/month- focus on visual art with music incorporated

*1 x’s/month- focus on music with visual art incorporated when appropriate

Program staffing:

*Facilitator plus:

*1 volunteer per session where ability issues are low

*2 volunteers per session where ability issues are higher

All members of the AWE team - facilitators and volunteers alike - will receive training to understand the unique needs of art participants living in Long Term Care and learn to apply approaches which are sensitive to meeting these needs.

Facilitators have previous collective experience and training in: art, music, education, dementia support, therapeutic art and music, trauma training, personal experience living with brain changes, nursing , end-of-life care (death doula) and community support services. 

Program costs (for facilitation and materials)

There will be a $25 fee for residents, which will cover material and facilitation expenses for 4 sessions/month. For residents/families where this fee is beyond their financial means, AWE will waive the fees.  

Subsidization will be provided, in part, by the ‘Support an Artist’ initiative (which will be in place yearly). 

During the first year, the income derived from the sales through the *Rolling Gift Shop initiative (see below) will aid in offsetting costs for materials in the second year.

An annual exhibit (AWE) and artwork sale will be held to create awareness of the benefits of the AWE program, highlight the incredible capabilities of LTC residents when equity is provided through a person-centred focus, shift the paradigm around LTC living, raise funds for materials, and provide art participants with a sense of pride, purpose and joy.

*The Rolling Gift Shop Initiative

A cupboard on wheels that can be rolled out on high volume visitor days or be a part of a pop up gallery to promote retail sales of artwork, such as: silk scarves, greeting cards, art posters, printed canvases and other art related works created by the program participants. Residents will have ownership and take responsibility for the operation of the Rolling Gift Shop. Proceeds from the Rolling Gift Shop sales will be reinvested in art materials for future programming.

What people are saying about this program (Project Joy):

• (residents) express themselves through art and surprise themselves with what they could accomplish.

• work in particular with residents living with dementia was phenomenal. 

• The outcomes of the program showed improvement in cognitive functioning, increased confidence, reduced feelings of anxiety and depression, and overall increased quality of life. (proven) anyone is capable with the right support. 

Camille Lesiuk, Regional Recreational Therapist; SW Saskatchewan

• Most residents had symptoms from dementia

• Unlocked forgotten memories, opened the door to candid conversations with many that suffered from memory loss.

• forged strong relationships with all participants.

• improved moods, increased social interaction, self- expression, enhanced motor skills and reduction in pain.  

• provided residents with a social outlet, an opportunity to feel successful and promoted healthy and positive feelings. 

• it has become a part of the resident's daily life.

Dannette Warberg, Manager Wolf Willow LTC Home- Eastend, SK

• a creative outlet to express themselves, create and experience joy. 

• It is a social medium and a cultural one. 

• At a time where seniors were isolated and deprived, so much opportunity for connection, maintained stimulation and socialization for seniors living in the LTC home.

Dr Kevin Wasko MD, CCFP(EM)- (referring to his experience as a professional and personal; a grandmother who was a participant in the program)  Swift Current, Sk

• enhancing their creative experiences and most importantly improving their mental health. respectful programming at individual ability levels which left residents feeling successful and proud of their accomplishments. 

• A transformation began.  

• a social outlet, an opportunity to feel successful and promoted healthy and positive feelings. Class sizes grew and residents once adverse to any art program began coming without reservation. Residents looked forward to the hours spent expressing themselves and many found a new love and purpose in their days. Family members of LTC residents in our community still talk about the programming and the value it had given their loved ones’ lives. Many would join their loved one in these sessions providing a connection and form of communication that otherwise was difficult.  

• Helped us grow and learn in ways that will impact our future programming. 

Tammy Wilman, Program Coordinator, Grand Coteau Gallery & Cultural Centre, 

Shaunavon SK

• We could not have anticipated the overwhelming impact it had on the artists, their families as well as our community. 

• (art) programming and the exhibition changed the paradigm for many. (in reference to the AWE Exhibition)

Tammy Wilman, Program Coordinator, Grand Coteau Gallery & Cultural Centre,

Shaunavon SK

• My mother has dementia and so I’ve struggled with having false expectations of my mother’s condition rather than being present to see the person who she is now. This is something I’ve wrestled with for years but working on the documentary with Shon gave me a new perspective. 

George Tsouriganis, Film Maker; OverTime Studios  Swift Current SK

NOTE:  Preserving the Mind: Ageing and Dementia

Dr. Luis Forzanni, MD, FRCPC Memory Clinic, St. Michaels Hospital, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Music, University of Toronto

Recent studies by a neurological team out of Toronto, headed by Dr Luis Fornazzari, have demonstrated that a combination of music, movement and visual art is one of the most effective ways to protect and maintain brain health.

Step 2

Project Grey Matters  

Serving the citizens of Medicine Hat by delivering person-centred therapeutic art and music programming to residents with a dementia diagnosis, not living in formalized care (sessions are also open to those with brain changes due to injury or disease).

The program comprises visual art, music and movement sessions to help maintain/improve brain health for individuals living with changed brain function.

We encourage caregivers to use the program as ‘respite’ for the individual navigating dementia/brain changes if we are able to accommodate in ways that result in the individual being able to function in a group setting. Please contact us to discuss your loved one’s ability levels (physical and cognitive) and unique needs. We will do our best to make this work.

Note: We are seeking to pilot Grey Matters in collaboration with a community gallery.

Program will be:

*Low Skill

*High attunement - Supportive, loving, predictable, attentive, presence of attuned art facilitators, creating the environment where participants feel safe in the world, engage in relationships, and claim space in society.

*Dignified - age, ability level and culturally appropriate

*Person- centred - Meet the unique needs of every individual for successful outcomes

Program will incorporate:

*Productive Engagement (rather than Receptive Engagement). That is; 

problem solving/decision making vs passive participation.

*The 8 ‘C’s  Community, connection, creativity, confidence, clarity, calm, courage and (self) compassion

*The 5 ‘P’s  Presence, Persistence, Perspective, Playfulness, Patience 

Program will take place:

*Sessions will be held 2x per week.

*All sessions will include music, movement and visual art. 

*Class limit 12

Program staffing:

*Lead Facilitator

*Mentee

*1 volunteer per session where ability issues are low

*2 volunteers per session where ability issues are higher

All members of the AWE team - facilitators and volunteers alike - will receive training specific to working with those living with dementia and brain changes.  Facilitators have previous collective experience in art, music, therapeutic art and music, education, trauma training, personal experience of living with brain changes, End-of-life-care (death doula), nursing  and community support services

Program costs (for facilitation and materials)

*Cost $25/month for materials and facilitation (8 sessions a month)

There will be a $25 fee for participants, which will cover material and facilitation expenses for 8 sessions/month. For participants/families where this fee is beyond their financial means, AWE will waive the fees.  

Subsidization will be provided, in part, by the ‘Support an Artist’ initiative (which will be in place yearly). 

An annual exhibit (AWE) and artwork sale will be held to create awareness of the benefits of the AWE program, highlight the incredible capabilities of persons navigating brain changes when equity is provided through a person-centred focus, shift the paradigm around dementia, raise funds for materials, and provide art participants with a sense of pride, purpose and joy.

Step 3

Continuing the Conversation  (when words and memory fail)

         “Because Art Can When Words Cannot”

Serving the citizens of Medicine Hat by providing education and lending materials to family, friends & caregivers.  The program consists of a lending library with a dementia support section that is designed to support relationships and meet the changing and unique needs of individuals with moderate to advanced dementia.

Workshops will be held for the public on how to utilize the art and music lending materials for successful application in building a new style of relationship with those living with moderate to advanced dementia.

Continuing the Conversation is  scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of our first year of programming.

Step 4

Professional Art Studio

Long term planning includes the development of a working professional art studio for individuals of varying ability levels. 

Letter of recommendation for Program Director, Shon Profit:

I am writing to enthusiastically recommend Shon Profit for her exceptional work with seniors. As the former director of the Art Gallery of Swift Current I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Shon from 2018-2021, where we worked closely developing a Creative Care Program for several senior homes in Southwest Saskatchewan. I am thoroughly impressed with her talent, dedication, and ability to connect with and inspire senior individuals through music and visual art.

Shon has been an invaluable asset developing programs aimed at enhancing the well-being of seniors through creative expression. Her artistic skills, coupled with a deep understanding of the unique needs and sensitivities of senior individuals, have resulted in transformative and enriching experiences for all involved.

One of Shon’s many standout qualities is her ability to create a warm and inclusive environment that fosters creativity and self-expression. She possesses a genuine and compassionate approach, which has not only made her highly effective in her work and research but has also endeared her to most anyone she engages with. Shon exhibits a deep commitment to promoting the dignity, independence, and overall quality of life for seniors. Her dedication to advocating for the importance of arts engagement in healthy ageing is both admirable and inspiring.

Additionally, Shon consistently seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge base and skill set, demonstrating a remarkable dedication to personal and professional growth. She is not content with the status quo; and actively pursues educational opportunities, whether through formal courses, workshops, or self-directed learning initiatives.

Moreover, Shon demonstrates exceptional organizational and communication skills, ensuring that each art session is tailored to the unique interests and abilities of the seniors involved. She is a master at adapting her approach to accommodate different levels of physical ability and cognitive function, making art accessible to all.

In summary, I highly recommend Shon for any artistic initiatives or programs focused on working with seniors. Her passion, empathy, and artistic ability make her an outstanding professional in this field. 

If you have any further questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at benningh@gmail.com or by phone at 

(306) 270 - 5648.

Thank you for considering Shon Profit for opportunities to continue this invaluable work. 

Sincerely,

Heather Benning