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America’s 65+ population will more than double to 86.7 million by 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau). As Baby Boomers enter retirement, they seek to live not only longer but more active, meaningful lives. The National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) recent Creativity and Aging study demonstrated that participatory arts programs can produce significant health benefits for older adults.
With the coming of the' elder-boom' and new research indicating that arts participation is good for the general health and wellness of older adults, the National Guild has embarked on the Creative Aging Initiative. This multi-year initiative provides information and training to foster start-up and development of participatory arts programs for older adults.The goals of this initiative are to increase the capacity of community arts education providers to serve older adults, provide models of high quality creative aging programs in the field and raise public awareness about the benefits of creative aging programs.
Learn about:
This pilot program provides in-depth technical assistance and seed grants of $5,000 - $7,500 to nine National Guild members to enable them to design, implement and evaluate sustainable creative aging programs (participatory, skill-based arts education programs for adults age 60 and above) using best practices detailed in the Guild's latest publication, Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit. Technical assistance focuses on capacity-building with particular attention to outcome-based evaluation.
On behalf of the MetLife Foundation, the National Guild has awarded nine grants totaling $60,000 to the following members to support their creative aging programs.
Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA
It's My Time…Art Series
The arts council and the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging will collaborate on a visual arts class at a senior center. The purpose is to provide participating older adults with quality arts learning experiences that increase knowledge of and skills in an arts discipline while engaging them physically, mentally and socially. The older adults will work with the teaching artist to create watercolor paintings that reflect their memories and develop their skills. Themes may include “Tales from the Kitchen” and result in a visual art story quilt. The participants will exhibit their works at the senior center.
Baltimore Clayworks, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
Advanced Senior Adult Program
After five years of teaching older adult women introductory ceramics at the Pimlico Road Arts and Community Center, Baltimore Clayworks’ teaching artists will transition both classes to a more advanced level. The purpose is to increase their knowledge and skills in ceramics, and to facilitate their social engagement. The lead teaching artist, with whom the groups are bonded, will serve as the liaison between the participants and other teaching artists. All will work together to create projects based on life experience. The advanced classes will include trips to the organization’s main facility elsewhere in the city to learn about glazing and other techniques. At the program’s conclusion, the older adult women will exhibit their works at the community center and at the organization’s gallery.
Jack and Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts
Michigan City, IN
Wabgonke: Things Made of White Earth
The Lubeznik Center has contracted with a Native American artist to teach elders of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians to work with clay and create sculptural and functional ceramics. The participants will reconnect with a traditional art form and language through exploring their experiences and celebrating their heritage. As a result, they will increase their creative and social expression. The culminating exhibit will take place in the Elders Hall—the site of the program—and at the Lubeznik Center.
Longy School of Music
Cambridge, MA
Singing for Seniors
In partnership with the United South End Settlements, Longy’s teaching artist will train older adults through one-on-one, small group and whole group instruction at the Harriet Tubman House, a senior center. The curriculum includes singing in harmony, deep breathing, body positioning, reading music, increasing vocal health, performing skills and telling a story through music. Participants will also teach the artist their favorite songs and build on their life experiences to create songs together and a sense of community. The program will culminate with a performance at the senior center.
MacPhail Center for Music
Minneapolis, MN
Making Music a Lifelong Experience
A voice faculty member and music therapist will co-teach older adults who live at Martin Luther Care Center, a nursing facility. The purpose is to promote feelings of self-worth and overall well-being; promote greater independence in communication, social skills and physical mobility; and provide a positive social exchange between residents and care providers. Participants will learn to sing, and play the autoharp and percussion instruments. They will tap into their memories to write poetry, which will become the lyrics for the music that they will compose collaboratively. Program participants will perform by themselves and with other older adults and children at a day-long creative aging conference convened by MacPhail.
Main Line Art Center
Haverford, PA
Artventures: A Moving Story
A collaboration among the Creative Arts and Aging Network, Mid County Senior Services, Wane Art Center, Wayne Senior Center and Main Line Art Center, this program features two teaching artists—a visual artist and a dancer/choreographer. The goal is to enhance participants’ self-discovery and personal growth by providing a creative and supportive community setting in which to share wisdom and personal stories through the visual and performing arts. The older adults in the class at Main Line Art Center will engage in activities such as portrait painting and instruction in emotional movement expressions. The culminating exhibit and performance, which will be videotaped, will take place at the art center and the senior centers.
Neighborhood Music School
New Haven, CT
Vintage Voices: Rediscovering Music and Movement
The Neighborhood Music School will host older adults recruited from senior centers and independent living facilities. With the guidance of two teaching artists—a voice coach, pianist and music therapist, and a dancer—participants will engage with each other musically and kinesthetically to increase their knowledge, skills and appreciation in music and dance. They will also reflect on life experiences and identify common themes that they will then explore through singing and dancing. At the conclusion of the program, participants will perform at the school.
New Orleans Ballet Association
New Orleans, LA
NORD/NOBA Senior Classes
The New Orleans Ballet Association has been teaching stretching, social dance and ballet skills to older adults at two New Orleans Recreation Department centers. The teaching artist will gradually integrate sequential skill-building into these classes, drawing on the participants’ memories, life experiences and music preferences. Other program components are workshops with a psychologist and dietician, and complimentary tickets to two main stage performances. The goal is for the participants to improve their overall health (mental, physical) and increase their knowledge of and skill in dance. The older adults will perform at several events including the New Orleans Senior Olympics.
The National Guild hosted a conference call on September 4, 2008 to answer questions that prospective grantees had about the Creative Aging Program.
Download a recording of the information session (6.3 meg mp3 file)
Johanna Misey Boyer Creative Aging Program National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts (301) 589-0331 johanna@jmb-arts.com
Access Interactive Web Version
Developed in partnership with the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit is a first-of-its kind resource for arts, healthcare and/or aging services organizations that are developing and expanding participatory arts programs for older adults. Such programs have been shown to improve participants' health and strengthen engagement.
Authored by Johanna Misey Boyer, the Toolkit describes
The Toolkit's publication exemplifies a combined commitment--on the part of NCCA, the National Guild, and NJPAC--to lifelong learning in the arts. In November, 2006, NJPAC and NCCA held the first-ever national conference on creative aging. The proceedings were compiled into a conference report from which much of the information in Creativity Matters has been derived. Additionally, three dozen interviews with leading practitioners and an extensive literature review have been conducted.
Our partnership with NCCA has opened doors in the elder services industry, shedding light on the many thousands of senior centers and retirement communities that we hope will create arts programs for their constituents with the help of Creativity Matters.
The Toolkit is available to members for $30; the non-member price is $35. Click here to purchase, or call the National Guild office at (212) 268-3337 ext. 16.
A review copy is available to press upon request. Please contact Heather Stickeler, marketing and communications manager, at (212) 268-3337 ext. 10. Download press release.
The Toolkit is made possible with support from MetLife Foundation, NAMM: The International Products Music Association, the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, and Roche.
Creativity Matters is designed as a self-contained learning tool, but by offering training we can deepen the understanding, commitment and skill of practitioners in the field.
The Guild's most recent Creative Aging Training was held at the 71st Conference for Community Arts Education in Philadelphia, November 1. Presented by the National Center of Creative Aging, this highly interactive series of workshops is designed to help your organization engage older adults in professionally led, participatory arts programs.
The National Guild has a long and successful track record of producing such trainings. Our first Creative Aging Institute was held on October 26, 2005, in Pittsburgh. Sessions included:
See the 2005 Institute program and read presenters' bios (PDF)
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The National Guild is grateful to the MetLife Foundation and NAMM Foundation for their generous sponsorship of The Creative Initiative.
