Erin Curren was looking for some new dance offerings in Portland back in 2007 and discovered Nia. Nia is a fusion fitness class that blends three major movement forms- martial arts, dance, and the healing arts. There are guided, choreographed steps, and then free dance mixed in to each hour long class. Nia began in […]

Together is Better: How to make art with new Mainers to build community

Refugee resettlement programs in Maine have created development and investment in communities but has lacked cohesion at times. Urban and rural areas should look for ways to assimilate new Mainers without taking away from their home culture identities- one way to do this is through public and community art. Humans have a fundamental relationship with […]

Dementia & Engagement at the Museum

Museums all over the world (the MoMA, Denver Museum, National Gallery of Australia) are offering special programs for seniors with dementia and caregivers. These range from dementia-only viewing hours of specific pieces of art, to hands-on engagement through art making, tactile experiences with sculpture, to lecture and discussion of shows. Research has shown that creative engagement […]