SPARK!
SPARK! gives adults with memory loss and their caregivers a chance to enhance their quality of life through social interaction, mental stimulation, and communication in a safe and comfortable atmosphere. Sessions are held on the third Wednesday of most months from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Participation is free for individual caregivers and participants.
SPARK! offers a variety of engagement-focused activities: gallery tours, dancing, hands-on art making, world-class performances, culinary and musical therapy, and more.
The Arts Center’s specially trained education staff and volunteers lead programs emphasizing the joy and creativity that can be found in the present moment, drawing on the strengths of the individuals, irrespective of their diagnosis. Programs are designed for individuals with early- to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and can be adapted to the needs of other groups.
The Arts Center is a founding member of the SPARK! Alliance, a group of cultural organizations formed in 2010 to offer high-quality programming and support for people with memory loss. The SPARK! Alliance aims to focus on the rich and satisfying experiences that are possible through creative engagement, rather than on the negatives often associated with dementia.
For more information about SPARK!, call JMKAC at 920-458-6144 or email Claire Carlson at ccarlson@jmkac.org.
Sessions are held at the Arts Center unless otherwise noted. All activities subject to change.
SPARK! is supported by Mersberger Financial Group, Inc. and Home Instead.
Additional support come from the Kohler Trust for Arts and Education, the Frederic Cornell Kohler Charitable Trust, Kohler Foundation, Inc., and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.