Creating a relational arts-based academy for persons living with dementia.

A hospital-university collaboration has created an innovative learning Academy for persons living with dementia. Authors propose essential foundations for creating a different culture of dementia care: a home-like, judgement free place; a relational space focused on artistic expression and discovery; and, the marriage of learning with a deep respect for difference and growth. An array of challenges and insights highlight the commitments required to create and sustain real change. Partnerships with community organizations and schools merged relational philosophy-based research, teaching-learning, and art to generate new patterns of innovative practices. The commitment of the Academy is to relational arts-based inquiry focused on relationships, life enrichment, and engagement in a space where everyone thrives.