(Flint, MI) Since the Fall of 2023, the Art Spark! program has provided an inviting, inclusive and accessible space for people with memory loss and their care partners at the Flint Institute of Arts Museum + Art School. Now the FIA is pleased to present the Brilliant Minds Symposium — an interactive workshop dedicated to exploring the intersection of arts and cognitive health. This unique event takes place in two sessions on Saturday, September 14 from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the FIA’s Isabell Hall, with an optional boxed lunch at noon.
Billed as an immersive, art-making and art-learning experience designed by artists and clinicians to boost cognitive health, the Brilliant Minds Symposium promises to demonstrate how creativity and the arts can enhance self-worth, social confidence, overall well-being and contribute positively to brain and body health.
The day is divided into two sessions: the morning session focuses on caregivers and care partners of individuals with dementia and other life-limiting illnesses; the afternoon session encourages anyone in the community to explore brain health and the benefits of integrating the arts into daily routines.
Participants in both sessions will engage in a variety of creative activities, including poetry writing, mural making, music and dance, ensuring an energizing and immersive experience. Following the afternoon session, attendees will enjoy art-making demonstrations featuring hot glass work, ceramics, printmaking, neuropathic watercolor painting and gallery tours.
This symposium offers attendees a chance to unlock creative potential and harness the scientifically proven benefits of the arts. Whether to sharpen mental acuity, cultivate more meaningful relationships, or simply rediscover passions, this event has something transformative to offer anyone seeking to enhance their overall health and quality of life. No prior artistic experience is necessary—just an open mind and a willingness to explore.
Symposium timeline:
9:30a: Caregiver Registration
10a–12p: Caregiver Session
12–1p: Optional Boxed Lunch
12:30p: Community Session Registration
1p: Community Session
3:30–5p: Art Making Demonstrations
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required at flintarts.org.
For more information, contact Jennifer Giddings-Essenmacher at 810-234-1695 or jessenmacher@flintarts.org, or visit flintarts.org/learn/
