Over 60 local artists support museum’s Dementia Programme

An art exhibition with a difference opens at Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery this month, as local artists unite to support the museum’s innovative Dementia Programme.

Here and Now is an exhibition and auction of 60+ postcard-sized artworks – each generously donated by a local artist.

The postcards will be on display at the museum between 24th May and 21st June, with artists and their families invited to a celebratory opening event.

The postcards will be displayed anonymously, with an online auction taking place between 6th –  20th June.

Once sold to the highest bidder, the artist of each work will be revealed before they make their way to new homes.

All funds raised will go towards supporting and growing the museum’s Dementia Programme, at the heart of which is the Monday Museum Club.

The Monday Museum Club is for people with mild to moderate dementia and uses items from the museum’s historical collections as the basis for activities and discussion with the aim of nurturing connection, independence, and a sense of personal identity.

The Monday Museum Club was developed in partnership with Memory Matters and is designed to help with brain function to reduce memory loss; two groups have been running since 2022, with a waiting list of participants keen to join.

£4,000 would fund one group for a whole year, while £8,000 would keep both groups running – an ambitious target, but according to the museum anything raised via the auction will help immensely.

Museum Co-Director, Bryony Robins, commented: “We were fascinated to see the diversity and originality of the artwork submitted for the Here & Now charity auction. We are deeply grateful to the artists who have chosen to support the work the museum is doing for people living with dementia, and for making this exciting exhibition possible.

This charity auction and exhibition will be unmissable and great fun – it’s an opportunity to purchase original and unique artworks, so do dig deep if you can”.

She continued: “By helping people connect through art and artefacts, we are playing an important health and wellbeing role in the community. However, we can’t do it alone, and this auction is just one of many innovative ways we’re raising funds for projects which make a real difference to people’s lives.”

All the artworks can be viewed online at www.cornwallmuseum.org/exhibition/here-and-now/ where the participating artists are also listed; the exhibition opens to the public on 24th May and the auction begins on 6th June at  www.32auctions.com/hereandnow