At Lifetime Arts, we believe creativity is a fundamental human right.
Older age isn’t about slowing down and retiring from the world, it’s a next phase in our lifelong journey; a time for new beginnings, discovering joy, reigniting purpose, and forging connections. Lifetime Arts has long advocated for the unique power of arts learning to support these goals.
Over the next five years, our mission is clear: weave creative aging into the fabric of our communities by embedding it as a core component of older adult programming, services, and care.
Our strategic plan for 2025-2029 sets a bold course for the future. Through national advocacy, innovative programming, and meaningful partnerships, we aim to transform the experience of aging. Together, we can ensure that creative aging becomes an essential part of how we live, learn, and grow as we age.
Our Vision for Creative Aging
We envision a world free from ageism and social isolation, where creative aging is recognized as an essential driver of health and well-being. Older adults will be celebrated not only as learners and creators but as valuable contributors to the cultural and social life of our communities.
To achieve this, Lifetime Arts is focused on four key goals:
- Make Creative Aging an Essential Part of Healthy Aging Policies and Plans. We’re on a mission to establish creative aging as a core component of state and federal aging policies. This involves working across sectors to influence multi-sector plans on aging, ensuring the arts are recognized for their significant health and social benefits.
- Expand Creative Aging Access and Availability Nationwide. To ensure creative aging is available to all, we will grow the reach and impact of our services and ensure current programs get the support they need to thrive. By training more teaching artists, equipping organizations with practical and adaptable tools, and fostering cross-sector collaborations, we’ll make it easier for communities everywhere to engage in creative aging.
- Develop Lifetime Arts’ Capacity to Lead. As the creative aging field evolves and grows, Lifetime Arts must adapt to meet increasing demand for inclusive services and leadership. By strengthening our staff, systems, and commitment to accessibility, we will continue to drive innovation and amplify the impact of creative aging.
- Strengthen Financial Resources to Support the Movement. We are committed to securing the financial sustainability of Lifetime Arts and the broader creative aging movement. By diversifying our funding streams, increasing unrestricted revenue, and cultivating new partnerships, we’ll ensure a bright future for creative aging.
How We’ll Get There
We’re not just talking about lofty goals — we’re rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. Here’s how we’ll turn our vision into reality:
- Mobilizing Policy Change: We will convene multi-sector leaders — from healthcare to the arts — to develop policies that integrate creative aging into healthy aging initiatives. By building alliances with policymakers, funders, and advocates, we’ll drive forward national and state-level recognition of creative aging’s importance.
- Expanding Training and Support: We’ll offer new, accessible training opportunities for teaching artists, government agencies, and community leaders, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to deliver creative aging programs that have real health outcomes. Our revamped Creative Aging Foundations training will set the standard, while new resources will focus on sector-specific needs.
- Activating a National Network: To deepen engagement, we’ll foster connections between creative aging champions through online communities of practice and multi-sector convenings. These networks will support ongoing learning, partnerships, and collective actions across the country.
- Increasing Funding: We are launching a targeted strategy to increase financial support for creative aging, engaging new funders and developing corporate partnerships. This will ensure that creative aging continues to grow and thrive for years to come.
Join Us in Transforming Aging
The future of aging is creative, connected, and full of possibility. Through our core strategies, we are building a movement — one that ensures all older adults have the opportunity to learn, create, and grow. We invite you to join us in this vital work. Together, we can change the way we age.