BAP’s founder, Jonathan Brotchie, has devoted his life to the search for new treatments and cures for Parkinson’s disease. We feel a strong connection to, and wish to play our part in, the broader Parkinson’s community, from researchers, clinicians, and donors to people with the disease and their caregivers.

Research tells us that people with Parkinson’s “see” art differently than those without Parkinson’s. For instance, people with Parkinson’s are reported to have a greater appreciation for abstraction over figuration, and yet their perception of movement in works such as the classic Jackson Pollock action paintings is diminished. They have also been found to demonstrate higher rates of “emotionality” in response to art of any style, even if, generally speaking, their “taste” and ideas about beauty often do not change.

Insights such as these, at the intersection of art and Parkinson’s, not only help those of us without the disease better understand what it feels like to have Parkinson’s, but hold out enormous potential in telling us more about the cognitive processes underlying aesthetic experiences generally, and shine a light on the workings of the human mind.

With our Parkinson’s-related activities, BAP has two goals. First, we seek to build alliances with research institutes or venture funds that can leverage the current and future value of the collection to support innovative research into novel therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease. If your organization has an active Parkinson’s research program, or wishes to establish one, please contact us and we can see how our goals might align.

We also seek to support and share expertise around efforts to expand our understanding of how art is processed, appreciated, and engaged with by people living with Parkinson’s disease. Whether by supporting scientific research or artistic projects that explore the subject, these are initiatives that have the potential to unlock new avenues for investigating the fundamental nature of why and how we all appreciate art. If you have a great idea in this area, and think we can help bring it to life, get in touch.

Nine things to know about Parkinson’s disease

More readings and research into the links between art and Parkinson's