Music Supports Memory: Lincoln Center's Performances for Adults with Dementia
Access to the arts is vital in the lives of those who live with dementia, providing an opportunity for social connection, engagement with past hobbies, and a means of self-expression. Lincoln Center Moments—a performance-based program for individuals with dementia and their caregivers—brings together artists, educators, and music therapists to present live performances and arts-based workshops that engage this often-overlooked community. Through applied research, this session focussed on the intersection of the science of dementia and the arts. Attendees heard from musicians and facilitators about their unique approaches to engagement, gained the perspective of participants on the program’s impact, and shared in a dialogue about the future of the arts accessibility field.
About the Art Administrator
Miranda Hoffner is the Associate Director of Accessibility at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, where she drives initiatives to increase accessibility and inclusion for visitors, staff and artists, including performances for individuals with dementia, job-readiness programs for young people with disabilities and disabled artistry performances. She is actively involved in the accessibility field, as former Chair and current Steering Committee Member of the Museum, Arts and Culture Access Consortium. Miranda has a B.A. in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont and an M.A. in Museum Studies from New York University.
About the Artist
Arielle Lever is an education / administrator / artist who focuses on including people with cognitive disabilities in the arts. She is the Project Manager of Supporting Transitions, which increases cultural opportunities for adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities. She is a co-founder, Teaching Artist, and former Director of Programming at CO/LAB, which provides individuals with developmental disabilities theater opportunities. Arielle is a Teaching Artist with The New Victory Theater, Lincoln Center Moments, and Broken Box Mime Theater. She performs with various companies in the New York City area and also consults independently with organizations on the intersection of access and theater.
About the Psychologist
Evan Shelton is an experienced speaker, applied researcher, and instructor. With a background in Applied Cognitive Aging, he has held positions as a pre-doctoral research fellow at Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at John Carroll University, and Director of Brain Health at a large retirement community in Northeast Ohio. Shelton is an advocate for persons with dementia, and believes that those experiencing memory loss can live meaningful, enriching lives despite their diagnosis. Shelton currently serves as Innovation Officer at the Center for Applied Research in Dementia (CARD).
About the Musician
Guitarist and banjoist Justin Poindexter is the Director of School & Community Programs at Jazz at Lincoln Center. In this capacity, he leads Jazz for Young People® touring programs and educational performances across the country and beyond. Justin co-designed and directs Let Freedom Swing, the world’s largest in-school jazz concert series. Justin also leads workshops and masterclasses on a variety of topics relating to jazz and American music. An accomplished guitarist, Justin has toured Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and most recently Estonia, Poland and Germany in American Music Abroad and Art Envoy programs for the U.S. State Department, performing and collaborating with local artists.
