Lifetime Arts Co-Founder Maura O’Malley Announces Her “Rewirement!”

READ MAURA’S LETTER TO THE FIELD

After 15 years of leading Lifetime Arts, our beloved and tremendously visionary co-founder and CEO, Maura O’Malley will be officially “rewiring” at the end of this year.

No, that isn’t a typo. Rewiring is an alternative to retiring. It underscores that as we age and move through different life stages, we continue to learn, create, and try new things.

Maura will be doing exactly that. Starting in 2024, she will paint, garden, spend time with family, and continue to serve Lifetime Arts as a Board Member, advocate, and partner in our international work. Her dedication to creative aging is unwavering.

As veterans arts administrators and older adult caregivers, Maura and Co-Founder Ed Friedman (who moved into rewirement in 2020!) knew two things to be true: a human being’s capacity to learn and grow does not diminish with age and arts engagement is really good for you. Together they launched Lifetime Arts in 2008 and grew it into a leading national service organization for creative aging. Their leadership has contributed significantly to the rising tide of amazing organizations and individuals committed to creating a world where creativity and lifelong learning are seen as a human right. 

“Lifetime Arts is a labor of Maura’s love for change and community building. Her warmth and enthusiasm have brought people into the field and opened up a whole new world to both older adults and teaching artists. She has created a movement that will continue to grow and touch the lives of so many Americans. What an achievement!”

Board Chair Doug Wingo

Lifetime Arts is in a strong position to meet the increasing demands of the creative aging field and will continue to build on Maura and Ed’s legacy under the direction of our new Executive Director Heather Ikemire, our committed board of directors, and our phenomenally talented staff.

Thank you, Maura, for always making the table bigger for people to shape the creative aging movement collectively and for leading with your heart and incredible sense of humor. Join us in wishing Maura a very happy rewirement! She can still be reached after the new year at momalley@lifetimearts.org in her capacity as a board member.

Read More About Maura’s Work + Accomplishments