Arts 4 Dementia

About us

Arts 4 Dementia believes that people living with dementia and their carers have the right to enjoy life to the full. We develop stimulating arts programmes, and signpost dementia-friendly events, for people living with early-stage dementia to help them feel empowered, re-energised, and inspired. We also provide early-stage dementia awareness training for arts facilitators, enabling them to deliver effective workshops. 

A4D focuses on what people can achieve, which is often a lot more than they imagine. 

Our COVID-19 response

We have also adapted many of our services, and launched new initiatives, in response to Covid-19. So far, we have: 

• Updated our events listings to show remote access events, allowing you to find events and activities to engage in from home
• Adapted our community arts workshops to take place online through Zoom
• Launched our new initiative, Chatty Wednesdays, which provides a space for people with dementia and their carers to chat, connect, and creatively engage with one another on an online video call

The facts

Dementia describes a range of degenerative brain disorders of which the most common is Alzheimer's.

It will affect one in five of us, and over 850,000 have been diagnosed in the UK.

Receiving a diagnosis is a shock and provision for those in the early stages, trying to come to terms with the diagnosis, is not good.

However, creative skills can remain vibrant for years after the onset of dementia. Engaging in artistic activity has remarkable effects on people living with the illness. It brings joy to them and their carers and is a highly effective non-pharmacological way to reawaken and re-stimulate cognitive ability. 

What we do

1) A4D offers challenging arts programmes for people in the early stages of dementia.

2) A4D trains arts facilitators from all over the country in early stage dementia awareness, enabling them to deliver stimulating arts workshops. To date, we have trained over 800 facilitators who after lockdown will reach over 16,000 people affected by dementia. 

 3) We signpost arts events for people living with dementia nationwide on our website, allowing families across the country who are living with dementia to get involved.

A4D focuses on what people can achieve, often a lot more than they imagine. The workshops, across art forms from music and dance to drama and photography, invigorate and restore confidence, energy and sense of purpose in the community and bring joy to participants and carers alike. 

A4D publications also serve as valued toolkits for arts organisations looking to develop or improve their arts programmes for people affected by dementia and their carers.

You can make a difference!
Your support for A4D will enable families facing the shock of a recent diagnosis to to participate in stimulating, inspirational programmes, bring joy to those with dementia and carers alike and delaying progression of the symptoms.

We may still have a place available at the wonderful Royal Parks Half Marathon being run in Central London on 11 October.  Otherwise we would welcome any (reasonable!) challenge you would like to do to support A4D's work.

THANK YOU!