Learn more about two innovative programs implemented via a partnership between the Utah Museum of Fine Arts and Utah Pride Center and explore more creative aging programs and resources that support the needs and interests of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Your belief is a belief.
Divina De Campo, English Drag Queen
My existence is a reality.”
Community Partnership Combats Isolation Among Queer Older Adults
While the experience of isolation can plague all older adults, recent research conducted by Sage — an advocacy group for LGBTQIA+ seniors — indicates that members of the queer community are twice as likely to age alone in comparison to their peers. According to AARP’s “2018 Maintaining Dignity Survey,” 76 percent of LGBTQIA+ adults aged 45 and over worry about having adequate family and social support systems to fall back on as they grow older.
In an effort to fight social isolation in this community, the Utah Pride Center and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts partnered in June to deliver two arts education programs, “Sew Much Pride” and “Silver Pride,” which were promoted to LGBTQIA+ older adults and allies.
“We have viewed these workshop series as opportunities to both collaborate with some wonderful partners, and to serve audiences we haven’t created programs for in the past,” said Ashley Farmer, Co-Director of Learning and Engagement at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. “We saw these programs as an opportunity to support, bring together, and provide a fun learning experience to this specific group of people.”
In addition to offering arts education programming, the Utah Pride Center offers support groups for gay men, lesbians, queer people of color, trans and binary people, bisexuals, pansexuals, people in recovery, and people who are neurodivergent. The center also provides counseling and suicide prevention services, as well as social groups like trivia nights, game nights, and sack lunches.
“Sew Much Pride” Program Connects Older Adults to Art History & Artmaking
“I joined ‘Sew Much Pride’ for my non-binary teen grandchild, and to learn.”
Participant
“Sew Much Pride” was an eight-week program where participants learned how to sew and design their own fabric flags to express what LGBTQIA+ Pride means to them. Their final pieces are displayed at the Utah Pride Center. This program was part of the Vitality Arts Project for Art Museums Initiative, supported by E.A. Michelson Philanthropy with training provided by Lifetime Arts.
“Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community is important generally, but also specifically in a creative environment where many people identify as LGBTQIA+,” said Laura Wilson, Creative Aging Coordinator for the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, and instructor for both programs. “Creative expression can be particularly significant for people who are 55+ and LGBTQIA+ who have not had the same freedom of identity that younger generations have had. The Vitality Arts workshop format offers a smaller, intensive learning experience which is safe and supportive.”
As part of the program, the museum provided participants with yearlong memberships, encouraging them to engage with the museum’s art galleries and other educational resources. “We wanted them to feel like the museum is theirs,” said Ashley.
“I’ve taken advantage of [the museum] now when I go to my flag class,” added a participant. “I’ll go early and look at everything. Now that I have a membership, I’ll definitely go more.”
“Silver Pride” Program Catalyzes Strong Bonds Among Participants
The success of “Sew Much Pride” was built upon “Silver Pride,” the first ongoing drop-in program offered in partnership between the museum and community center. During the first workshop last fall, participants designed a tile or quilt using paper and watercolor paint and explored different watercolor techniques including wet on wet, dry brush, salt, and frisket masking fluid. Their final pieces were displayed at the Utah Pride Center. This program created lasting friendships among workshop participants. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is currently researching, talking to, and connecting with some recently founded groups that focus on the 55+ LGBTQIA+ community for future program opportunities.
Explore More Resources Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community & Share Your Own!
Check out a past issue of The Creative Aging Resource Journal, which featured interviews with two innovative programmers; Amy DelPo, Older Adult Specialist at the Denver Public Library and Harrison Orr, Director of Museum Education at Tucson’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) on their virtual and intergenerational programs for LGBTQIA+ communities. Join our mailing list for free!
And browse more resources on The Creative Aging Resource Website which include articles, case studies, newsletters, reports, and more on creative aging programming and projects that support the needs and interests of LGBTQIA+ youth and older adult members. If you’re interested in sharing resources that support this community, please complete our online submission form and help us continue to grow a robust database!
