FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2019
Arts education programs designed to engage the vitality of older adults
New York, NY—Twenty nonprofit arts education organizations from 13 states have been selected to participate in the third cohort of the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s Catalyzing Creative Aging Program. This multi-phase program is provided in partnership with Lifetime Arts, a nationally recognized leader in designing and disseminating model creative aging programs for active older adults, with support from Aroha Philanthropies, St. David’s Foundation, and other generous supporters. The initiative is designed to support the establishment of high-quality and effective arts education programs for older adults that increase social engagement and mastery of one or more art forms. Research shows that professionally led, participatory arts education for older adults fosters positive aging and healthier lives.
2019-2020 Participants
Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge
Austin Classical Guitar
Austin Soundwaves
Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Destiny Arts Center
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
Healthy Living OKC
Berkshire OLLI
New England Conservatory School of Continuing Education
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Oberlin College Community Music School (CMS)
Old Town School of Folk Music
Ping Chong + Company
Portsmouth Music and Arts Center
Rockland Conservatory of Music
Sonoran Glass School
The Clay Studio
The Legacy Arts Project
The Union for Contemporary Art
UCCS Presents/Ent Center for the Arts
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Lifetime Arts and Aroha Philanthropies on this important initiative,” said Jonathan Herman, CEO of the National Guild. “With each new cohort of Catalyzing Creative Aging, our nation gains a group of organizations committed to combating ageism and promoting the well-being of our older generations.”
The program will provide training and coaching for eight months (Nov. 2019–June 2020) via a series of workshops, webinars, and video consultations. Participating organizations will play an integral role in developing arts education for older adults at the intersection of health, senior services, community arts, and social change. They will also be part of a growing, intentional shift away from the passive entertainment traditionally offered to older adults, and towards programs that inspire vital creative practices. Ten of the participating organizations will be selected through a separate competitive application process to receive seed grants of up to $7,000 to implement new creative aging programs in fall 2020.
“We are thrilled to welcome this new cohort of Creative Aging Guild members who represent a wide variety of disciplines, organizational structures and sizes—as well as diverse regions of the country,” said Maura O’Malley, CEO of Lifetime Arts. “The Lifetime Arts team is looking forward to working with each of these important community organizations to help align their work with best practices in Creative Aging. As always, we’re proud to partner with the Guild and Aroha Philanthropies to advance this work.”
The goals of the Catalyzing Creative Aging Program are to:
- Increase capacity to serve older adults through skill-based, participatory arts programs
- Provide models of high-quality creative aging programs to the field
- Raise public awareness about the benefits of creative aging programs
Catalyzing Creative Aging is made possible with support from Aroha Philanthropies, St. David’s Foundation, and other generous supporters. For more information, visit www.nationalguild.org or call (212) 268-3337 ext. 10.
About The National Guild for Community Arts Education
The National Guild for Community Arts Education ensures all people have opportunities to maximize their creative potential by developing leaders, strengthening organizations, and advocating for community arts education. Through these strategies, the Guild aims to address our country’s widening opportunity gap which leaves millions of individuals with little or no access to the creative resources they need to reach their full potential. Together, the Guild’s national network of 400+ members serves 2.5 million students annually, employs 16,000 teaching artists, and reaches 8 million people through performances and exhibits. www.nationalguild.org
About Lifetime Arts
Lifetime Arts, Inc. was founded in 2008 as a service organization with a singular goal: to enrich the lives of older adults through arts education. Lifetime Arts works nationally to build the capacity of organizations, agencies, and individuals to initiate, develop, implement, and sustain professionally conducted Creative Aging programs for the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population. www.lifetimearts.org
About Aroha Philanthropies – Awakening Creative Expression
Within all of us, creativity lies waiting to be awakened and expressed, bringing new chances for confidence, connection, purpose and joy. Aroha Philanthropies supports the development of artistic and creative opportunities – and the personal discoveries that go with them – for everyone. Aroha fulfills its mission to awaken creative expression and build communities through its three program branches, each with a different area of focus:
- Discovery Arts: Sparking wonder through creativity for children and youth
- Vitality Arts®: Inspiring creativity for ages 55 and better
- Humanity Arts: Enhancing homes and empowering creativity for adults with mental illness
Aroha Philanthropies is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more information, visit arohaphilanthropies.org. Vitality Arts® is a registered mark of Aroha Philanthropies.
CONTACT
Jenina Podulka, National Guild for Community Arts Education
jeninapodulka@nationalguild.org
Jacqueline DuMont, Lifetime Arts, Inc.
jdumont@lifetimearts.org
