This year, the National Gallery of Slovenia received the ICOM award for the project titled “National Gallery – The Dementia Friendly Point”. ICOM (the International Council of Museums) is the world’s leading, non-profit, nongovernmental organisation connecting museums of all kinds and disciplines, other member institutions and experts in a worldwide communications network. The ICOM has more than 30,000 members from 137 countries. Starting in 2021, the National Gallery, in cooperation with Spominčica – Alzheimer Slovenia, started organising a number of activities to adapt museum contents and programmes to people with dementia. The authors and providers of this content are doing pioneering work, with which the National Gallery, as the first museum institution in Slovenia, acquired the title of Dementia Friendly Spot – as a part of the Dementia Friendly Points network established by Spominčica – Alzheimer Slovenia. They also participated with Spominčica – Alzheimer Slovenia in the international Erasmus+ project, Art vs Dementia.
People with dementia and people with reduced cognitive ability are currently a neglected vulnerable group in museums. At the National Gallery, by carefully preparing activities for them on the one hand and raising public awareness on the other, they bridge this gap and enable them to be treated equally and try to improve their inclusion in society. The activities are carried out in cooperation with Spominčica – Alzheimer Slovenia. With the awarded project the National Gallery contributes to the understanding of the cultural heritage and also social inclusion of people with dementia and their carers and their family members. Artistic creation and observation of works of art has been proven to have a beneficial effect on a person with dementia, as it activates a certain part of the brain. It calms and alleviates negative emotions, helps to express feelings and ease anxiety, and strengthens self-confidence. All relevant guided tours and creative workshops are free for people with dementia and cognitive impairment.
