An Art Exhibition on Creative Activities of Family Members of Persons with Dementia as an Effective Tool for Science Communication: A Qualitative Assessment Study

Dementia poses a huge challenge - not only to the persons living with the condition but also to their family and friends. Recent research has demonstrated that engaging in creative activities can serve as a coping mechanism to deal with the dementia of a loved one. An art exhibition was created to communicate this insight to a broader audience. As indicated by interviews with exhibitors and visitors as well as an analysis of notes that visitors left in the exhibition, the exhibition helped generating important knowledge regarding the usefulness of creative activities, opened new perspectives on dementia, and provided a platform for exchange and solidarity that inspired individuals to think and behave differently. In sum, this suggests that arts-based exhibitions can be a powerful tool for health communication and science communication and for broadening the societal discourse in the context of dementia.