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"The visual arts offer a way to communicate beyond words. A person can still tell others how he or she feels about the world through color, shape, and texture when his or her tongue ceases to cooperate."
–Anne Davis Basting, Forget Memory

For 30 years, the Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado has offered the Memories in the Making® (MIM) art program, keeping memories alive and fostering connection for those living with dementia through artistic expression. Because of the growing incidence and prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and the support that those with the disease will need, we remain committed to offering awareness, education, and support to all affected. But like most parts of society, we were not immune to impacts from the pandemic. While art is a recognized tool to improve the lives of those affected, we do not have the capacity to run the program with the love and attention that it needs given the growing demand on our other programs and services and changing disease landscape.

To ensure that MIM will not completely sunset in Colorado, we are excited to partner with two organizations that have the capacity to best support the long-term care industry, communities, and their residents in meaningful art engagement. These partners are well positioned to continue and expand the benefits of the Memories in the Making art program, making art accessible to more people.

Please reach out to our new partners to learn about these two different programmatic offerings and enroll in an art program.

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Purple Art (purpleartboulder@gmail.com)
An expressive art program for seniors, facilitated in person by their engaging art leaders.

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Be Growth Dementia (brenda@begrowthdementia.com)
The Memories in the Making train-the-trainer program for professionals and volunteers serving those living with dementia. 

The Alzheimer’s Association remains available to these partners, host sites and communities all across Colorado for education on dementia, but will no longer be overseeing the MIM program.

Questions about this change can be directed to Lisa Steffen lsteffen@alz.org.

We’re grateful to all who participated in and supported Memories in the Making® over the past 30 years. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the new partnerships that ensure expanded access to art, and for your support in advancing our mission and vision in the era of treatment.