DOTHAN, AL December 12, 2025: The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) is proud to announce it has been awarded $35,000 for the South Arts Cross-Sector Impact Grant to support a new, multi-year arts-and-health initiative developed in partnership with Respite Care Ministry of the Wiregrass and local arts organizations.
This highly competitive grant program recognizes innovative collaborations between arts and non-arts partners working together to address community needs through the transformative power of the arts. South Arts’ Cross-Sector Impact Grants are designed to cultivate deep, artist- and community-centered partnerships that harness the potential of “Arts & collaborations. Over the next three years, the program is focusing exclusively on projects at the intersection of Arts & Health and Wellness, supporting efforts that strengthen community wellbeing, address long-term challenges, and increase access to meaningful arts experiences across the Southeast. Approximately 18 projects will receive continued support over three grant cycles, with South Arts investing in long-term impact and measurability. WMA will receive $15,000 this year and an additional $10,000 each in the second and third years for a total of $35,000.
With this grant, WMA and Respite Care Ministry will launch an arts-based program that provides weekly creative engagement opportunities for individuals living with memory loss, while also offering meaningful respite and support for their caregivers. The program responds to a growing need in the Wiregrass region, where limited memory care resources leave many families without adequate social, emotional, and cognitive support. Through hands-on visual artmaking, creative writing, movement, theatre-based activities, and poetry sessions, participants will engage in experiences tailored to their abilities, interests, and personal stories. Sessions will be led by WMA teaching artists and staff from the Southeast Alabama Community Theatre (SEACT), and delivered in a structured, supportive environment. The initiative draws inspiration from the evidence-based Opening Minds through Art (OMA) model, emphasizing dignity, self-expression, and
connection for individuals experiencing memory loss.
Monthly group visits to the Wiregrass Museum of Art will deepen the program’s impact and strengthen social networks for participating families. In 2027 the community will be invited to a public exhibition of artwork created by participants—celebrating creativity at every stage of life and raising awareness around memory care needs in the region.
Dana Marie Lemmer, Executive Director of the WMA, said, “This grant allows us to expand our previous partnership with the Respite Care Ministry to work and build a sustainable, arts-integrated care model that promotes wellness, reduces isolation, and celebrates the inherent creativity of every person.”
“At Respite Care Ministry, we look forward to every session we share with the Wiregrass Museum of Art and SEACT,” said Katie Holland of Respite Care Ministry of the Wiregrass. “There is no right or wrong when creating art and this is everything for our participants living with dementia who always seem to feel like they do everything wrong. Our partnership with WMA gives our friends the chance to express themselves without judgment and experience the emotional lift that comes from accomplishing something meaningful. Thank you also to SEACT, they encourage us to be fully in the moment and enjoy the freedom that creative expression brings. This collaboration has already been such a gift to our program, staff, our volunteers, and participants. We are truly grateful for this opportunity in our community and this partnership.”
Jennifer Love Doherty, Executive Director of Southeast Alabama Community Theatre (SEACT), added, “SEACT has taken a leap outside the theatre where its teaching artists partner with other organizations to impact area families. No one outgrows a love and need for stories, movement, and games that spark memories and create new ones with others. Theatre activities are perfect for stimulating interest and connection, vital elements of mental health and longevity. It is an honor for SEACT to help create a humanizing and arts-forward space in partnership with WMA and FUMC Respite Care.”
By partnering across sectors, WMA and Respite Care Ministry aim to strengthen the region’s care ecosystem and create innovative, accessible pathways for wellbeing rooted in the arts. This initiative reflects WMA’s commitment to providing transformative art experiences for all, while reinforcing South Arts’ mission to advance Southern vitality through meaningful, community-driven collaborations. For more information about the program or upcoming opportunities to get involved, please contact the Wiregrass Museum of Art.
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