Summer Art Camps 2025
OMA
(Opening Minds Through Art)
Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people living with dementia. It was developed at Scripps Gerontology Center, an Ohio Center of Excellence at Miami University, in 2007. People living with dementia (artists) are paired with volunteers who are trained to rely on imagination instead of memory and focus on remaining strengths instead of lost skills. OMA enables people living with dementia to assume new roles as artists and teachers and leave a legacy of beautiful artwork.
Jacoby is excited to offer this opportunity to both young volunteers and those living with dementia. Age segregation in our society has caused people across generations to see each other as strangers. By connecting people across generations via direct, regular interactions centered around the arts, we build positive attitudes about each other in a joyful way.
OMA is offered at Jacoby Arts Center in 8 week sessions, led by experienced facilitator Chris Baker. Our warm, welcoming community arts center is the perfect space in which to create beautiful, meaningful art work.
Volunteers
Volunteers for OMA are required to commit to an 8 week session, plus one, 2 hour orientation.
We welcome all young people ages 17+ who are Seniors in High School or older. NO artistic ability is required! Volunteers will be assigned to one Artist, and will work with that Artist for the entire session. The Program Facilitator is responsible for all planning - volunteers are only required to work with the Artist to assist them in creating their pieces.
This program is a perfect fit for college students in Art Therapy programs or other therapeutic or artistic subjects but there is no limitations on who can volunteer for OMA! Anyone who is of a younger generation than our Artists is welcome to give time to the program.
Artists
Any person living with dementia is welcome to sign up to work with the OMA program. The only requirement is that they can get to our location at 208 State Street in historic, Downtown Alton, Illinois. Interested Artists can be Waitlisted on the form below and as Volunteers become available, we will reach out with a registration form and payment link. Questions about if your loved one might be a good fit? Please reach out to Program Facilitator Chris Baker at cbaker2720@gmail.com.
Cost for the 8 week session is $80. This fee covers all materials and facilitation for the session and is non-refundable. Payment will not be due until your loved one is placed with an available Volunteer. The Fall 2025 session will begin on Saturday, September 27th from 10:30-11:30am. Artist-selected works will be hung at the Jacoby Arts Center gallery for public exhibition during the months of December, January, and February. A reception for Artists, Volunteers, and their loved ones will take place on December 5th from 6-8pm.
