About the Tatamuri® in Museum Group
The Tatamuri® in Museum group activity for people with memory disorders and their family members has been designed specifically for the Museum Centre Vapriikki, in collaboration with other cultural history and art museums in Tampere.
The program has been offered to four groups per year. Its development has been guided by group art therapist Tiina Butter and museum educator Lila Heinola.
Tatamuri® in Museum Art Group
The Tatamuri® in Museum Art Group is designed for people in the early stages of memory disorders and their family caregivers. Participants join the group as couples, with four couples taking part in each group.
The program consists of six weekly sessions held in different museums. Each session is led by an art instructor (group art therapist) and a museum educator. During the two-hour meetings, participants explore the museum’s exhibition and then continue with a guided art workshop. The exhibition experience is shaped through interaction with the participants, following their interests and pace. The workshop is based on the steps of the TATAMURI® Method.
Participation in the group enhances self-esteem, communication, and peer support. It also helps reduce feelings of loneliness. Although the group is not a form of therapy, the discussions and creative activities can have therapeutic effects. Overall, being part of the group supports personal, intellectual, social, and physical well-being.
Origin and Purpose of the TATAMURI®Method
The name TATAMURI originates from the Finnish phrase TAidetta ja TArinoita MUistisairaan RInnalla, which translates to art and stories alongside the person with a memory disorder.
The TATAMURI® Method was originally developed and registered by two group art therapists, Tiina Butter and Marjatta Hiltunen. It is based on the principles and exercises of expressive group art therapy. The method emphasizes self-expression and aims to re-enable communication between individuals with memory disorders and their family members. Through this approach, it becomes possible to reach and reconnect with the core identity of the person.
