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America’s 65+ population will more than double to 86.7 million by 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau). As Baby Boomers enter retirement, they seek to live not only longer but more active, meaningful lives. The National Endowment for the Arts’ (NEA) recent Creativity and Aging study demonstrated that participatory arts programs can produce significant health benefits for older adults.
Interest in these kinds of programs for America’s seniors is growing. Yet, when it comes to how to deliver high quality, sustainable arts programs for older adults, very little has been published. To fill the void, the National Guild has embarked on the Creative Aging Initiative.
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Developed in partnership with the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Creativity Matters: The Arts and Aging Toolkit is a first-of-its kind resource for arts, healthcare and/or aging services organizations that are developing and expanding participatory arts programs for older adults. Such programs have been shown to improve participants' health and strengthen engagement.
The Toolkit's publication exemplifies a combined commitment--on the part of NCCA, the National Guild, and NJPAC--to lifelong learning in the arts.
Authored by Johanna Misey Boyer, the Toolkit describes
The Toolkit is available to members for $30; the non-member price is $35. C lick here to purchase, or call the National Guild office at (212) 268-3337 ext. 16.
A review copy is available to press upon request. Please contact Heather Stickeler, marketing and communications manager, at (212) 268-3337 ext. 10. Download press release.
A Spanish language version of the Toolkit will be available later this year.
The Toolkit is made possible with support from MetLife Foundation, NAMM: The International Products Music Association, the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey, and Roche.
The scope of the Creativity Matters project extends beyond a single publication. It is a multi-year initiative to provide information and training to foster start-up and development of participatory arts programs for older adults.
National Guild trustee Emilie Roy Corey represents the Guild at the Creativity Matters: Arts and Aging Conference in Newark, NJ, November 2006
In November, 2006, NJPAC and NCCA held the first-ever national conference on creative aging. The proceedings were compiled into a conference report from which much of the information in Creativity Matters has been derived. Additionally, three dozen interviews with leading practitioners and an extensive literature review have been conducted.
Our partnership with NCCA has opened doors in the elder services industry, shedding light on the many thousands of senior centers and retirement communities that we hope will create arts programs for their constituents with the help of Creativity Matters.
Creativity Matters is designed as a self-contained learning tool, but by offering training we can deepen the understanding, commitment and skill of practitioners in the field.
The Guild held a one-day Creative Aging training institute based on Creativity Matters content at the 70th Conference for Community Arts Education in Los Angeles on November 7, 2007. The Institute is designed to be replicated at other national, regional and local conferences.
The National Guild has a long and successful track record of producing such trainings. Our first Creative Aging Institute was held on October 26, 2005, in Pittsburgh. Sessions included:
See the 2005 Institute program and read presenters' bios (PDF)
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The National Guild is grateful to the MetLife Foundation and NAMM for their generous sponsorship of Creativity Matters: Arts & Aging Toolkit.
