De Werf Cultuurhuis hosts dementia awareness art expo

The pop-up exhibition ‘Niet vergeten. Een bloemlezing van talenten’ (Not Forgotten. An Anthology of Talents) has opened at De Werf Cultuurhuis to highlight the creativity of people living with dementia.

Created by residents of four urban residential care centers—Mijlbeke, De Hopperank, Sint-Job, and De Faluintjes—the artworks focus on themes of flowers to showcase the talents, feelings, and connections that remain even as memories fade. The initiative aims to shift the public perception of dementia from a focus on loss to an emphasis on enduring creativity.

Caroline De Meerleer, Alderman for Elderly Care and Retro Policy, noted that the exhibition brings together stories of residents who continue to create and surprise others despite the challenges of the condition. Katrien Beulens, Alderman for Care Innovation, added that involving people with dementia actively helps create more understanding and strengthens community connections.