From 2021-2022, Lifetime Arts trained and coached nearly 1,000 teaching artists, librarians, and community-based organization staff across 22 states on building creative aging programs, partnerships, and practices via the National Assembly of State Arts Agency’s (NASAA) Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging Initiative.
Our final training sessions with state arts agencies in Oklahoma and Nebraska concluded in October. In November, Lifetime Arts staff and members from the Utah Division of Arts & Museums and Ohio Arts Council presented the impact of this initiative at NASAA’s 2022 virtual Creative Aging Institute. Read on to learn more about these engagements and how state arts agencies are building on the success of this initiative
“NASAA’s Creative Aging Institute not only highlighted the incredible programming that has been sparked and expanded through this initiative, but also the power of a growing and diverse community of practice dedicated to advancing arts learning opportunities. By 2030, older adults will be the dominant age group in the United States. Their needs as lifelong learners and creatives are best met when we work collectively to undo systemic challenges, support new and expanded programming, share information and resources, and raise the visibility of this important work.”
Heather Ikemire, Deputy Director, Lifetime Arts
Oklahoma Arts Council’s Creative Aging Exchange, Oklahoma City
In August, the Oklahoma Arts Council invited Lifetime Arts to deliver an additional in-person creative aging workshop for teaching artists, library programmers, and arts organization staff during their 2022 Creative Aging Exchange at the Belle Isle Library in Oklahoma City.
The creative aging workshop, led by Nathan Majoros, Director of Programs, and Vinny Mraz, Lifetime Arts Trainer, focused on the creative aging movement and research, curriculum design and planning for older adult learners, and ageism and its impact on program design. Vinny also led a demonstration improv class to show how social engagement exercises are embedded into the program curriculum.
“In one of our group discussions, we met a few folks who are all relatively new to either their organization or in their positions and they were all looking forward to getting started, making connections across the state, partnering with each other and getting their
programs up and running.”
— Vinny Mraz, Lifetime Arts Trainer
Nebraska Teaching Artists Discover New Tools for Social Engagement
In October, we trained a cohort of Nebraska teaching artists for the Nebraska State Arts Council.
During the Nebraska teaching artist training, Lifetime Arts Trainer, Rhynna M. Santos, led a photography demonstration class, and said that, “…participants really engaged with all of the spaces created for social engagement throughout the class session. They also enjoyed the different examples for opening and closing rituals and to see the S.A.F.E. planning in action.”
Lifetime Arts Trainer, Clark Jackson, expressed that throughout the training, “…participants wanted to acquire tools to put in their toolbox that ensures they are attuned to their students’ needs and abilities.”
State Arts Agencies Share Increased Demand for Creative Aging Development
Convened virtually for two weeks in November, NASAA’s 2022 Creative Aging Institute hosted 56 state arts agency members, as well as nonprofit arts organizations, older adult service organizations, and individual artists for professional development focused on trends and topics in creative aging. The convening included the panel discussion, “From Training to Practice: Embedding Creative Aging in Our States,” which was moderated by Heather Ikemire, Deputy Director for Lifetime Arts. The panel also featured:
- Annie Montgomery, Senior Education Designer & Trainer, Lifetime Arts
- Julie Kline, Director of Education & Training, Lifetime Arts
- Jason Bowcutt, Community Programs & Performing Arts Manager, Utah Division of Arts & Museums
- Tracy Hansford, Community Programs Coordinator, Utah Division of Arts & Museums
- Chiquita Mullins Lee, Arts Learning Coordinator, Ohio Arts Council (OAC)
- Jarred Small, Arts Learning Coordinator, Ohio Arts Council (OAC)
The state arts agency members presented key insights and takeaways from the initiative and its overall impact in advancing creative aging programming in their states.
Jason Bowcutt and Tracy Hansford from Utah said: “The biggest ‘aha’ for us was in hearing report after report from organizations and artists of how incredibly well the classes went and how everyone was excited to continue doing this work.“
Chiquita and Jarred from Ohio said: “In partnership with Lifetime Arts, OAC delivered high-quality professional development and creative aging artist residencies at host sites around the state that now serve as a bedrock of skill and expertise from which we will grow and gain nourishment as a statewide collective.“
“The institute was incredible — and a testament to how this work shows up in such diverse ways across the country. Hearing from indigenous elders, library programmers, senior serving organizations, and more proved that creative aging work can truly be impactful in all kinds of communities when programs are responsive to the specific older adults being served.”
Julie Kline, Director of Education & Training, Lifetime Arts
Additionally, state arts agencies are using this initiative as a springboard for expanding creative aging opportunities in their states. The New Jersey State Council on the Arts announced a new Creative Aging Initiative grant program that was built upon the success of this project. The Utah Division of Arts & Museums requested additional training from Lifetime Arts this past fall and opened a second round of funding specifically for creative aging projects. And the Ohio Arts Council aims to expand their partnerships with area agencies on aging, libraries, and other host sites that serve diverse populations of older adults in rural areas. They also are interested in working with veterans and exploring intergenerational opportunities in their state.
See all of our posts related to this initiative and read our blog post, “Lifetime Arts Extends Capacity-Building Efforts with State Arts Agencies in CT, DE, UT + MI,” to learn more about this work beyond the NASAA initiative.
