Basting is a writer, artist and advocate for the power of creativity to transform our lives. Her award-winning nonprofit TimeSlips.org inspires and supports the infusion of creativity and meaning-making into health and social care systems. A native of Wisconsin, Basting received a master’s degree in theatre from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in theatre from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. She taught in the arts and humanities for 25 years at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Basting’s writing and large-scale public performances have helped shape an international movement to extend creative and meaningful expression from childhood, where it is expected, through to late life, where it has been too long withheld. She is author of several books including “Creative Care: A Revolutionary Approach to Elder and Dementia Care,” “Penelope: An Arts-based Odyssey to Transform Eldercare,” and “Forget Memory: Creating Better Lives for People with Dementia.”
Internationally recognized for her inspiring speaking and innovative work, Basting is the recipient of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and numerous major awards and grants. She believes that creativity is an innate human capacity that can and should be infused into every care system. She has trained/consulted with Meals on Wheels, libraries, home care companies, senior centers, memory cafes, museums, adult day programs and every level of long-term care.
Basting is currently writing new essays on her substack, and is at work on multiple projects including an effort to sustainably grow the memory cafe infrastructure from 900 to 9,000 across the United States.
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