ReCollections

May 2025 marked SAMA’s third year of offering the ReCollections program to the San Antonio community. 

What is ReCollections?

The goal of ReCollections is to deliver art museum experiences to the community of people living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, as well as their families and caregivers.

The seeds of ReCollections were sown in 2020 when Melissa Flores, a licensed professional counsellor and the community programs coordinator at the Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases at UT Health, approached the education team at SAMA to explore the possibility of co-developing a dementia-friendly arts program. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed those plans, but when Mayor Ron Nirenberg proclaimed San Antonio a dementia-friendly city in October 2021, the project became re-energized.

ReCollections began in 2022 as a partnership between SAMA, the Glenn Biggs Institute, and the Alzheimer’s Association. Still facing concerns about the pandemic, ReCollections started as a virtual program with sessions that included conversations—facilitated by museum educators and inspired by works of art in the Museum’s collection and featured exhibitions—to encourage close-looking, reminiscence, and storytelling.

In early 2023, ReCollections moved from online into the Museum. For the first time, participants were able to see works of art up close and converse face-to-face. ReCollections also began to incorporate hands-on artmaking to offer participants tactile opportunities for creative expression. Meals on Wheels San Antonio came on board as a partner during this time to provide meals or snacks to participants, further promoting an environment of social togetherness and mutual support.

Past sessions have explored the mindfulness of sumi-e painting, family histories expressed through creative heraldry, and reminiscences of long road trips as told through a collaborative music playlist.

Be sure to check our calendar of events to stay up to date on when ReCollections is happening!