On 23 September, museum and cultural professionals gathered at the House of Stories of the Lithuanian National Museum in Vilnius for a practical session exploring how museums can create more dementia-friendly, inclusive and meaningful experiences.
The event brought together two international experts: Bairbre-Ann Harkin, Curator of IMMA Horizons at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and Cristina Bucci, co-founder of the cultural association L'Immaginario and a member of the Tuscan Alzheimer Museum Network. The event was facilitated by Ieva Petkutė, the initiator of TADAM: Dementia Friendly Museum Network and the found of the association Dementia Lithuania.
Bairbre-Ann Harkin invited participants to consider the importance of slowing down and creating attentive relationships. Her session explored how the museum experience can be adapted to the person rather than expecting the person to adapt to the museum. From the initial welcome and finding one's place in the space to looking at artworks and engaging in conversation, small changes in pace, communication and attention can help create a more welcoming experience for people living with dementia.
Cristina Bucci led a practical session centred on movement, the senses and embodied experience. Participants explored how non-verbal communication, sensory experiences and movement can create new ways of connecting with artworks, museum spaces and other people. The exercises encouraged participants to look beyond conventional ways of communicating and to recognise different forms of participation and engagement.
Importantly, the event was not limited to presentations. Participants actively tested approaches and methods that can be adapted to their own museums and cultural settings. The practical format encouraged reflection on how cultural professionals can create spaces where people do not need to hurry, perform the role of a “typical visitor” or meet predefined expectations.
The session highlighted a central principle of dementia-friendly cultural practice: meaningful engagement begins with the person, their pace, interests, abilities and way of experiencing the world.
The event was part of Dementia Openness Days 2026, organised by the association Dementia Lithuania and Social Art Projects. It was supported by the Italian Embassy, Italian Culture Institute in Vilnius, and Creative Europe Desk LT.
