Welcome to the Museum of Love
The Museum of Love develops, collects, preserves and displays items documenting the importance of love in the lives of people with dementia. It was established by Dr Catherine Barrett and launched on Valentine's Day, 2017. At the heart of the Museum is a process for cultivating love skills, called Small Acts of Love. The Museum has cultivated Bigger Hearts in Ballarat and now has wheels - through LoveFest, which brings the Museum to local communities. Collections include:
Image of Jane and Rob, from The Kiss by Lisa White, The Social Photographer
- 100 stories: stories about people in Ballarat living with dementia
- The Kiss: portraits of people with dementia kissing someone they love
- The Mirror: photos of people with dementia enjoying their lives
- Letter of Love and Dementia: letters about love on film, on paper and in images
- Pulse of My Heart: a series of films tracing the life and loves of Edie Mayhew and Anne Tudor OAM
- Dance: portraits and stories about belonging
Image of Jane and Rob, from The Kiss by Lisa White, The Social Photographer
Mr Velvet Ears

In September we begin a series of launches of Mr Velvet Ears, our latest film in the Pulse of My Heart Series, which tells the story of Edie Mayhew's transition from home into residential aged care. The film is narrated by Anne Tudor OAM, Edie's married partners and told through the eyes of their Dementia Assist Dog. For more information about Mr Velvet Ears go to our Pulse page by clicking the link here.
Our collections
Click on the images or links below to go to our collections
Dr Catherine Barrett
Curator, Museum of Love
Phone: 0429 582 237
Email: director@celebrateageing.com
Curator, Museum of Love
Phone: 0429 582 237
Email: director@celebrateageing.com
Participation & licensing
We would love to hear from you if you are interested in contributing to the Museum or if you'd like LoveFest to come to your town, city, suburb or community. We also welcome expressions of interest in licensing - please contact us if you would like to undertake or replicate the Museum or any of its exhibits or activities. Click on the link here for a basic resource on how to utilise the Museum's collections.
Media
We want to thank the journalists and other media who have covered the Museum of Love. Your stories help us to achieve change. Media coverage sections are included in all the collections - and the following is a list of media relating to the Museum more broadly
- Exploring dementia and love. HenderCare. 16/1/18. link
The Museum of Love is an initiative of the Celebrate Ageing Program
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to
land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to
land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
(c) 2013 celebrateageing.com