“The project gently challenges the definition of who are ‘artists’, what art is, and what the role of art galleries is. Remai Modern and the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery are showing us a broader, more inclusive role in galleries.” — Participant
At Remai Modern, we believe that art is for everyone. Ensuring that sentiment rings true requires committed work to understanding, and then meeting, the needs of a wide range of audiences. From described tours for visitors who are blind or low-vision to low-sensory experiences designed with support from Autism Services of Saskatoon, the museum actively engages with community partners to expand offerings that promote inclusivity and accessibility.
According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada, an estimated 771,939 people in Canada were living with dementia by early 2025. Research shows organizations like libraries, art galleries and museums can play a beneficial role in supporting individuals with dementia and their care partners. Arts-based programming can foster dignity, connection, and community learning.
In 2025, Remai Modern’s Learning & Engagement department undertook a project focused on dementia-friendly programming. Thanks to a grant provided by the Saskatchewan Health and Research Foundation (SHRF) and a partnership with he Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit (SPHERU), Remai Modern was able to host a public screening and conversation, provide staff training, and conduct an off-site workshop at Stensrud Lodge, a Saskatoon long-term care facility.
Staff training was focused on increasing knowledge about and communicating with those living with dementia. The project’s goals included awareness/education, reducing stigma, advocacy and social change, and using art as a medium for inclusion.
The project placed an emphasis on improving both the lives of people living with dementia and their care partners, in recognition of the impacts living with dementia has on both groups.
The Alzheimer Society of Canada projects there will be more than 1 million care partners for people living with dementia by 2050 if current trends continue. These care partners include family members and friends providing unpaid care.
Recent investments like a $4.7 million in funding from the Government of Canada ensure care partners are woven into strategies for dementia care and support.
In April, guests and the public were invited to a screening of the documentary Belong Where you Find Yourself, which focuses on the project’s time in Yorkton. The film was followed by a conversation with people including the lead artists and participating families.
Program feedback
- “I found the documentary ‘gripping’ and a privilege to see into the lives of the people involved. There was a quiet hush of awe in the audience when it ended. Possibly a life-changing evening and very emotional.”
- “It was amazing! I feel this is very important to challenge stigma of dementia.”
- “I lost my mother a few months ago to dementia after many years of caregiving. I feel inspired to keep advocating and telling stories of my mother’s journey and to express myself through my own art.”
- “It’s about shifting the paradigm of programming to be more accessible to all and going in from needs-based not goals-based.”
- “The idea of ‘meeting people where they’re at on the given day’ is good advice for working with anyone.”
Outcomes
Following the programs at Remai Modern, SPHERU conducted a project evaluation. The evaluation was led by Dr. Nuelle Novik, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Regina and supported by May Ly, doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at the University of Regina. Their report recommended practical strategies for Remai Modern, including continued staff training and peer support networks. As a result, Remai Modern developed a training module for continued staff development in for front-facing team members at the museum. The project learnings will also inform onsite program development for adults aged 65+ in 2026.
Project history
Remai Modern’s work with SPHERU followed the completion of a five-year project called Dementia Supports in Rural Saskatchewan, which was conducted with rural communities across Saskatchewan. Part of the project was held in the Yorkton area in partnership with the Godfrey Dean Art Gallery and lead artists Alana Moore and Amber Phelps Bondaroff.
Moore and Bondaroff continued their work with the project as part of Remai Modern’s programming.
Belong Where You Find Yourself is a film documenting the work and experiences of those involved in a community-engaged art project that supported artists living with dementia and their care partners. From January 2022 – May 2023, lead Artists Alana Moore and Amber Phelps Bondaroff worked closely with a community of 12 artists from Yorkton and surrounding areas whose lives have been impacted by dementia. In this hour-long documentary, filmmaker Adrienne (Sunny) Adams weaves documentation of the artworks created with personal stories and experiences of the artists involved. Participating Artists in the BWYFY Project include: Elaine Berard & Herb Elder; Bonnie & Leon Jones; Merle & Dean Wiley; Amanda Babey & Verna Off; Pat & Ron Walton; and Twila Napoleoni & Jeanette Haberstock.