Creative aging programs can flourish online — due to the power of the teaching artist.
Lifetime Arts’ ongoing initiative, Brooklyn Digital: Connecting Through Creative Aging — an innovative partnership with Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and supported by The New York Community Trust aimed at advancing arts education programming in Brooklyn public libraries — has proven to serve as an anti-isolation remote program model for public library systems.
During the initiative’s first round of programming, Lifetime Arts trained nearly 50 librarians to plan, promote, and implement a total of 25 remote creative aging programs in 17 Brooklyn library branches and through BPL’s Services for Older Adults. These programs served nearly 600 older adults with sequential and instructional online learning and critical social connection during a time where homebound interactions are still a preference and/or requirement. As part of the initiative’s second round of programming, Lifetime Arts trained an additional 11 librarians to implement 15 more programs throughout BPL branches, which are happening now through July 31.
Through a generous grant provided by the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, a third round of programming will commence in the summer and fall of 2022. Lifetime Arts will continue to build the capacity of new, incoming adult service librarians through professional development and training in an effort to sustain high-quality creative aging programming throughout BPL branches.
The Power of the Teaching Artist
As this collaborative effort continues to advance arts education programming in Brooklyn, it’s important to reflect on a teaching artist’s power to inspire social bonds, creativity, self-expression, and confidence in their students during a time of pandemic languish.
The following are a few examples of online programs that were offered at the BPL branches and how teaching artists continue to foster creativity and connection during these programs and in the creative aging field.
Creative Aging: Exploring Collage with Found Materials with Antonia Perez
Brooklyn Public Library — Midwood Branch
Artwork by participant, Amy Salant. Credit: Antonia Perez
In October 2021, teaching artist Antonia Perez guided older adults through abstract and representational collage art using materials from their homes. This program culminated in a virtual share-out and discussion of participant’s final pieces.
Why Do You Teach Creative Aging to Older Adults?
“I strongly believe that active participation in arts learning and making is important for people of all ages to have opportunities for self-expression, to learn about art and artists and to connect with others. Making art within a group setting has been shown to help older adults combat loneliness, reduce doctor’s visits and feel more content. As the pandemic forced people to stay inside and curtailed their ability to engage socially, virtual art classes have made it possible for older adults to continue experiencing the benefits of in-person classes.”
Antonia Perez, Lifetime Arts Trainer
Creative Aging: Watercolor Workshop with Karen Fitzgerald
Brooklyn Public Library — New Utrecht Branch
Examples of participant artwork from the program. View more participant artwork here. Credit: Karen Fitzgerald
In September 2021, teaching artist Karen Fitzgerald offered a 6-week virtual course in watercolor to older adults who had limited experience working with the medium. Karen introduced her students to not only technical aspects of the medium, but also essential concepts of the visual language and working on a 2-dimensional surface. Participants shared their final pieces in this presentation slide deck.
Why Do You Teach Creative Aging to Older Adults?
“I’m dedicated to a sense of craft and teach in a way that helps students of any age understand the value of learning the technical aspects of any process. I am also deeply invested in a style of teaching that is not simply ‘art-for-arts sake.’ I am interested in teaching and learning that is embedded in experience.”
Karen Fitzgerald, Teaching Artist
Creative Aging: Your Voice, Your Life, Your Story Memoir Writing with Susan Buttenwieser
Central Library
In September 2021, participants logged into Zoom every Wednesday afternoon to learn about memoir writing with teaching artist, Susan Buttenwieser. During the program, students wrote autobiographical pieces which were then pulled together as mini-memoirs of their lives. These memoirs reflected on participants’ childhoods, memories of growing up in Brooklyn, traveling to new places, and more. Their final work was shared with one another and collected in an anthology.
“This is a unique collection of writers who have arrived every week with their hearts and minds open, and with incredible depths of kindness to one another. It is so inspiring to not only get to hear their words, but also to witness their warmth, respect and care-taking of each other.”
Susan Buttenwieser, Teaching Artist
Why Do You Teach Creative Aging to Older Adults?
“I am particularly interested to work with people who may find writing difficult, who don’t feel confident in their ability as writers, and may not yet see that what they have to say is important. I have always designed my workshops and lessons to include all voices of participants, to build self-esteem and to celebrate participants’ heritage, backgrounds and life stories. Older adults are a crucial part of our society and everyone benefits when we are given the opportunity to hear about their lives.”
Susan Buttenwieser, Teaching Artist
