Imagine a community center buzzing with activity. Older adults from all walks of life in community together, learning new skills, accessing vital services, and sharing stories over a steaming lunch. This isn’t a scene from a retirement brochure; it’s the reality of many older adult centers in New York City. But this very reality is …
This summer, Lifetime Arts had the opportunity to train hundreds of teaching artists, library workers, museum educators, and arts organization staff in Missouri, Wyoming, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Arizona as part of our major projects Advancing Creative Aging Through State Library Leadership and Vitality Arts Project for Art Museums and in partnership with the Phoenix Center for the Arts, Indiana Arts Commission, and Creative Aging in Memphis. These creative aging leaders will go on to impact the lives of more than 3,500 older adults in this year alone. Below are training highlights and reflections.
A total of 132 public and county library systems in Missouri and Wyoming will develop and/or expand arts education programs that improve the lives of older adults (55+) through the Advancing Creative Aging Through State Library Leadership Initiative (2023-2025). In partnership with the participating state libraries, Lifetime Arts will train and coach up to 250 librarians and library programmers in creative aging program planning, design, marketing, implementation and documentation. A total of 100 in-person and remote creative aging programs will serve up to 2,000 older adults in Wyoming and Missouri public libraries and build the case for long-term sustainability.
In October, Maura O’Malley, Lifetime Arts’ CEO/Co-Founder, and Annie Montgomery, Senior Education Designer & Trainer, presented creative aging best practices, participated on a panel discussion with local organizational leaders and artists, and facilitated a 4-hour Creative Aging Foundations Workshop at the Arts and Ageing Forum 2022: The Future of Arts and Ageing in Singapore, hosted by the National Arts Council (NAC) of Singapore.
In a featured interview, Maura and Annie share their experiences participating in this international event. They share their insights about the arts, culture and aging scene in Singapore, and share moments of learning and collaboration with local community artists and educators on how they engage older adults in lifelong learning educational programs. Maura also envisions how we can collectively share creative aging practices and resources internationally to succeed the common goal for universal lifelong learning opportunities.
This October, Lifetime Arts will be participating in a series of virtual and in-person engagements for arts and aging professionals in New York, Ohio and Florida. We will deliver presentations on a variety of creative aging topics for students, older adults, artists and arts educators and network with professionals in the arts and public health sectors. Read on to learn more about these opportunities.
On October 7, 2022, Maura O'Malley, Lifetime Arts' CEO/Co-Founder, and Annie Montgomery, Senior Education Designer and Trainer, are invited to participate as leading creative aging experts in the in-person event, Arts and Ageing Forum 2022: The Future of Arts and Ageing in Singapore, hosted by the National Arts Council (NAC) Singapore. Maura will present Lifetime Arts as the featured keynote, participate in a live panel discussion with local industry leaders, and co-lead an interactive workshop with Annie.
This year, Maura O'Malley, Lifetime Arts CEO and Co-Founder, was named a NYU Alumni Changemaker for her 40+ years of experience in the arts and public sector, specifically for creating infrastructure around sustainable and anti-ageist arts education programming for older adults nationwide.
In this interview, Maura discusses her life in the arts and public sector; how she overcame challenges and obstacles in pursuing this work; and how she received buy-in from stakeholders. Maura also discusses how she envisions positive growth in the creative aging field and how it intersects with equitable, lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Since May, 15 virtual and in-person programs have been offered throughout Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) branches and the Library's Services for Older Adults (SOA) department as part of our Brooklyn Digital: Connecting Through Creative Aging initiative supported by The New York Community Trust. The most recent series brings the total number of older adult participants in this initiative to nearly 1,000.
In May and June, 2022, Lifetime Arts provided nearly 40 hours of training and professional development services (in-person and via the Lifetime Arts Portal) to over 200 state arts agencies, museum staff, and teaching artists across the country as part of the national and statewide initiatives Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging and Advancing Creative Aging in Arizona's West Valley. Below we share some highlights from these professional development opportunities and emerging partnership opportunities this fall.
From May 19-22, 2022, museum and arts educators from across the U.S. reunited in-person at the American Alliance of Museums' Annual Meeting & Museum Expo in Boston, Massachusetts to explore and address the pressing issues, challenges, and opportunities that museums are facing today.
During the conference, Lifetime Arts delivered the workshop, "Creative Aging: Paving the Way for Lifelong Learning," to museum leaders and educators. Lifetime Arts also participated on a panel which featured our museum programming partners.
In spring 2022, Maura O’Malley, Lifetime Arts’ CEO/Co-Founder, was a featured speaker at two international conferences: MuseumConnections Paris where she presented, “Social Impact: Engaging with Older Adults,” and Ageing Artfully: Going Global, organized by the Creative Ageing Development Agency (CADA), where she presented, “Connecting Through Creative Aging: Social Distancing ≠ Social Isolation.” Maura was joined …
n the Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging Initiative supported by E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, Lifetime Arts partnered with the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies to grow their creative aging programs, practices, and partnerships with 21 state arts agencies across the country. In this post, teaching artists and organizational staff share their insights on the impact that our training has made in their practices, institutions, and communities. Additionally, the Lifetime Arts team shares insights on working with our partners and trainees.
In the Creative Aging in Wyoming Public Libraries Initiative, Lifetime Arts partnered with the Wyoming State Library and Wyoming Arts Council to implement creative aging programming in 23 county libraries throughout the state. In this post, we highlight some examples of creative aging programs that were offered through this initiative, and share insights from library program coordinators, older adult participants, and the Lifetime Arts team.
The New York State Creative Aging Initiative, an innovative partnership between The New York State Council on the Arts, The New York State Office for the Aging, and Lifetime Arts launched during the middle of the pandemic concluded in February 2022. Lifetime Arts trained and coached staff members from 7 area agencies on aging and nearly 70 New York state based teaching artists to plan, design, and implement 14 remote creative aging programs throughout the state.
advancing arts education programming in Brooklyn public libraries — has proven to serve as an anti-isolation remote program model for public library systems.
The following are examples of programs offered in museums across the U.S. — during and immediately prior to the pandemic — in which teaching artists centered their curriculum in Black cultures and history and/or taught media inspired by Black and Brown artists.
In April, Maura O'Malley, Lifetime Arts' co-founder and CEO, was joined by fellow creative aging practitioners in the virtual series, "Thriving Better Together: Creative Aging & Resilience."
In this post, we highlight a series of programs that are happening this summer as part of new and ongoing creative aging initiatives.
"What has been fascinating to me ... is that each arts agency — whether with a staff of 10 or 100 — has embraced this opportunity with serious, strategic and passionate effort," said Maura O'Malley.
Fifteen Wyoming libraries will soon offer arts-based programming that will enrich the lives of older adults (55+) in their communities through the Creative Aging in Wyoming Public Libraries Project. The project is made possible through a partnership between the Wyoming State Library, Wyoming Arts Council, and Lifetime Arts with funding from the Wyoming Community Foundation and the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 16, 2021 CONTACT Jenina Podulka, National Guild for Community Arts Education jeninapodulka@nationalguild.org nationalguild.org Shannon McDonough, Lifetime Arts smcdonough@lifetimearts.org Research shows participatory arts learning for older adults provides significant wellness benefits critical to counteracting social isolation New York, NY—The National Guild for Community Arts Education and Lifetime Arts are pleased to announce that …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Shannon McDonough Lifetime Arts smcdonough@lifetimearts.org This innovative collaboration promotes wellness and combats social isolation through anti-ageism training and community-based arts education programming. NEW ROCHELLE, NY: Today, Lifetime Arts announced that in addition to the professional development training for teaching artists and library programmers previously announced as part of the Creative Aging …
Teaching Artist, Susan Willerman, was teaching her workshop, “Writing From Life” at Morningside Retirement and Health Services in Washington Heights, NYC before COVID-19 halted her teachings. With the help from one of her students, Susan shifted her memoir workshop to an online format, allowing her students to maintain connection and inspiration through writing during the crisis.
Wyoming Arts Council Receives $20,000 Grant from the Wyoming Community Foundation for Creative Aging Training in Partnership with the Wyoming State Library and Lifetime Arts The Wyoming Arts Council is pleased to announce the receipt of a $20,000 grant from the Wyoming Community Foundation’s McMurry Library Endowment Fund. Through a partnership between the Wyoming Arts …
Julie co-facilitates Lifetime Arts’ trainings across the country, assists with the design and development of training curriculum, and supports all of Lifetime Arts' education efforts.
This year marked a turning point in our work and in the Creative Aging movement. More and more organizations and agencies across the country have realized that arts education for older adults isn't about filling empty time, it's about creativity, community-building, wellness, and helping people realize creative potential.
Lifetime Arts is humbled to acknowledge the contributions of our small, full-time professional staff who lead Education, Programming, Digital Media, Project Management, and Operations efforts in support of our work in the burgeoning field of Creative Aging. We are also very fortunate to be able to attract and retain top talent to work with us …
Earlier this year, Mayor Martin J. Walsh along with the Age Strong Commission and the Office of Arts and Culture announced a partnership with Goddard House Community Initiatives and Lifetime Arts that has brought free participatory arts programming to older adults in the city’s Jamaica Plain, Mattapan and South End neighborhoods. The Creative Aging Program (CAP) …
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the launch of a three-region Creative Aging Initiative to provide hands-on art-making programs that support comprehensive physical and mental health benefits for older New Yorkers and combat social isolation. Created by a new partnership of the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York State Office for the Aging, the Creative Aging Initiative takes an innovative, evidence-based approach to healthy aging, underscoring New York's leadership as the first age-friendly state in the nation.
To meet the growing demand for Creative Aging programming across the U.S., for the first time ever, the National Guild for Community Arts Education introduced a Creative Aging Track at their 82nd national conference held recently in Austin, TX. The Conference brought together more than 700 leaders and educators from all backgrounds to share knowledge, …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 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 …
Arts programming throughout the City to be tailored to older adults BOSTON – Friday, October 11, 2019 – Mayor Martin J. Walsh along with the Age Strong Commission and the Office of Arts and Culture today announced a partnership with Goddard House Community Initiatives and Lifetime Arts that brings free arts programming to older adults …
The National Guild for Community Arts Education and Lifetime Arts are pleased to announce that 10 nonprofit arts education organizations from 9 states have been selected to receive seed grants of $7,000 each to support the launch of new, innovative arts education programming for older adults in their communities. The population of older adults in …
In an effort to meet the growing, nationwide demand for our professional development services, we held a train-the-trainer event at our headquarters in New Rochelle, NY on March 25, 26 and 28. For this series, we invited our already established master teaching artists on our roster of trainers, Antonia Perez and Julie Kline, and identified …
This year more than 900 people aged 55+ from New Mexico to New Hampshire attended 65 Creative Aging programs in public libraries, arts organizations, and community spaces where they mastered new art-making skills such as digital photography, acting, creative writing, singing, and dancing. How do these programs work? These arts workshops were offered through several …
Marta Sanchez is a teaching artist and visual artist living and working in Philadelphia, PA. She has taught at several community centers and universities including the Tyler School of Art, St. Joseph’s University, Taller Puertorriqueño, and The Mann Senior Center. Her work is part of several permanent collections including Yale University, University of Michigan, University …
This week, Stria, a new media platform focusing on the longevity market, published a column by our co-founder and executive director, Ed Friedman, on retirement choice and how those developing products and messaging for this demographic might think differently about their approach. Visit strianews.com to read Ed’s column and to explore trends, topics, ideas, and …
Twenty nonprofit arts education organizations have been selected to participate in the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s Catalyzing Creative Aging Program. This multi-phase initiative, provided in partnership with Lifetime Arts, is designed to support the establishment of new, professionally-led arts education programs for older adults that increase social engagement and mastery of one or …
Community-Word Project, a New York City based 501(c)(3) arts-in-education organization that inspires children in under-served communities to read, interpret, and respond to their world and to become active citizens through collaborative arts residencies and teacher training programs, has invited Lifetime Arts to be a member organization of the Teaching Artist Project (TAP) Cohort. As part of …
Lifetime Arts to train and support educators at 20 museums across the U.S. as they develop and implement high-quality, intensive arts learning opportunities for older adults. Arlington, VA – Aroha Philanthropies, the American Alliance of Museums, and Lifetime Arts announced today that 20 museums and organizations have been tapped to participate in a new initiative, …
The National Guild for Community Arts Education is pleased to announce that 10 nonprofit arts education organizations from 9 states have been selected to receive seed grants of $7,000 each to support the launch of new, innovative arts education programming for older adults in their communities. Research shows that participation in activities that foster creative …
Artsy, an online platform for collecting and discovering art, has as its mission “to make all the world’s art accessible to anyone with an Internet connection.” Recently, Artsy Magazine interviewed Maura O’Malley, Lifetime Arts’ co-founder and CEO, about the way arts learning, skill-building, and social engagement — the tenets of creative aging — are increasing …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aroha Philanthropies Announces National Initiative in Collaboration with the American Alliance of Museums and Lifetime Arts MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Aroha Philanthropies, the American Alliance of Museums, and Lifetime Arts announced today that they will collaborate to launch Seeding Vitality Arts in Museums, a new national initiative developed, funded and managed by …
Lifetime Arts has been fortunate to partner with author and activist, Ashton Applewhite, as we build the capacity of organizations around the country to deliver arts instruction for older adults that is free of bias and ageism. Recently, Ashton was interviewed by KCRW‘s Jonathan Bastian ahead of her appearance at UC Santa Barbara last week …
NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Five Westchester County senior service organizations have each been awarded $2,500 by Lifetime Arts to plan and implement Creative Aging programs as part of the “Creative Aging in Westchester County” initiative, generously supported by the Westchester Community Foundation. Designed and administered by Lifetime Arts the project increases the capacity of these …
Maura O’Malley, Co-founder and CEO of Lifetime Arts, has been recognized as one of Next Avenue’s Top 50 “Influencers in Aging” for 2017. Next Avenue, part of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), is the only digital publication dedicated to covering issues for people 50 and older. Its third annual list of the Top 50 Influencers in Aging, includes advocates, …
Creative Aging in Westchester County Lifetime Arts is pleased to announce the launch of Creative Aging in Westchester County a capacity building and seed grant program to improve the lives of older adults through arts education. Creative Aging connects older adults with professional teaching artists through active learning programs in all arts disciplines. Across the …
Two of our master teaching artists, Lauren Jost and Dave Johnson are co-teaching a memoir class titled “I Know a Thing or Two”, at the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. The sessions are well attended with participants sharing their experiences and diverse backgrounds as the impetus for their stories. Lifetime Arts’ work in …
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2017 CONTACT: Ed Friedman 914-355-2304 NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Lifetime Arts, the nationally recognized leader in Creative Aging, and E.A. Michelson Philanthropy have launched a statewide grant opportunity for Minnesota: “Seeding Vitality Arts MN“. This new initiative will build the capacities of organizations in the state of Minnesota to develop …
Lifetime Arts is pleased to announce the launch of Catalyzing Creativity, a major Creative Aging initiative for New York City. Creative Aging connects older adults with professional teaching artists through active learning programs in all arts disciplines. Across the U.S., older adult advocates, researchers and artists are promoting the benefits of arts education for older …
“The survey showed that the overwhelming majority (96%) of respondents are interested in teaching art to older adults.” This is the last of three national surveys, investigating Creative Aging and teaching artistry this year. It’s no surprise that the survey revealed strong interest among teaching artists in working with older adults. Teaching Artists Speak! – …
As we reach the half way point in the year we’d like to share with you what has been happening at Lifetime Arts since the end of 2015. CREATIVE AGING IN AMERICA’S LIBRARIES This three-year project, funded primarily by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), has supported 72 Creative Aging workshops in public libraries …
“National survey results: SAAs reveal strong interest in Creative Aging” This is our second of three national surveys, investigating Creative Aging and Teaching Artistry. This survey addresses the roles that state arts agencies (SAAs) play in providing training for teaching artists in Creative Aging, and to what extent they support programming in this field. Forty-three …
Teaching Artists: Make Your Voices Heard! This survey is one of eight projects currently underway as part of the National Guild for Community Arts Education-‘s Teaching Artist Development Track, and one of three National Surveys on Creative Aging that we are publishing this year. In November our CEO and Co-Founder, Maura O’Malley sat down with …
National survey results: Ageism heads the list of challenges in developing teaching artist training in Creative Aging This first report of three national surveys investigating Creative Aging and Teaching Artistry offers an interesting snapshot of the state of teaching artist training in Creative Aging. 50 arts organizations told us about their programming for older adults …
****UPDATE 08/29/2016: Check out our video tutorial on searching the Roster** Its time! Our new and improved Creative Aging Roster is now fully launched and ready for your viewing!! The new Roster introduces an improved search function, a modern design, and a more user friendly experience. We are very excited to share the new Roster with …
Expand your organization’s reach, enrich your menu of services and increase support by learning how to incorporate Creative Aging programming into your education offerings.
Dear Friends, What an amazing year it’s been! Look at the headlines: Launched the Creative Aging in America’s Libraries Project – an expansion of our Libraries Initiative that will take us to 12 states across the country. Launched the first of the of the Lifetime Arts Creative Aging workshops as part of AARP Foundation’s effort …
Lifetime Arts Welcomes 23 New Teaching Artists to The Creative Aging Roster Last month, Lifetime Arts convened a panel to review and vet the latest round of applicants to the Creative Aging Roster, a free service we offer which provides direct access to teaching artists who are qualified to instruct older adults in community settings. …
SECOND NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANT AWARDED TO LIFETIME ARTS & WLS Westchester County, NY — Lifetime Arts, Inc. and Westchester Library System (WLS) announced today their receipt of a $500,000 National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. Creative Aging in …
On Monday, September 16, the Lifetime Arts team visited the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University to issue a challenge to students in the Capstone Program there. The assembled students listened to us deliver a brief overview of our work and our vision for the future of the organization. If …
After people hear about our work, view our videos, and read testimonials from participants, we’re often asked, “How do you find the teaching artists?”
Are you an experienced teaching artist looking to teach older adults? Lifetime Arts, Inc. is preparing to hold its quarterly Creative Aging Roster Panel Review. We are calling on professional teaching artists to submit applications to be listed on the Creative Aging Roster, featured at www.lifetimearts.org. Applications are accepted year round and reviewed quarterly. For …
Improving the lives of today’s older adults – an ever-growing segment of the U.S. population who will soon number 77 million and who definitely don’t identify as “old” – is a gargantuan task. “Creative aging” programs – professionally led arts workshops aimed at people 55+, facilitate skill-building, promote social engagement and are making a difference …
The third week in May is National Teaching Artists Appreciation Week! Established in 2012 by the Association of Teaching Artists, this is an opportunity to thank and recognize teaching artists across the United States who improve the lives of their students through professional arts instruction.
On April 18, Lifetime Arts co-founders Maura O’Malley and Ed Friedman received the 2013 National Library Week Recognition Award from the Westchester Library System (WLS) for their outstanding contribution to public libraries.
For the second time in a year, Preserving Your Memory magazine, a publication of the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, has profiled Lifetime Arts’ Creative Aging in Libraries Project sponsored by MetLife Foundation. “With this new set of creative aging programs, MetLife Foundation is helping us share Lifetime Arts’ successful program model with major …
Lifetime Arts is pleased to announce that we will be honored by Westchester Library System (WLS) with a National Library Week Recognition Award at their 22nd Annual Book & Author Luncheon on Thursday, April 18, 2013 which will be held at CV Rich Mansion in White Plains, NY. First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week …
Westchester Library System (WLS), and Lifetime Arts, Inc. in partnership with the American Library Association Public Programs Office, announced today the allocation of funds to support instructional arts programs in 41 libraries in the New York Metropolitan area. In the second year of this two-year program, Creative Aging in New York State Public Libraries: a …
Five Miami-Dade library system branches are now offering Lifetime Arts creative aging classes through the Creative Aging in Public Libraries Project funded by MetLife. Ana Veciana-Suarez of The Miami Herald interviewed Lifetime Arts Co-Founder and CEO Maura O’Malley and Miami-Dade Library Director, Raymond Santiago, for this feature article which also includes frank anecdotes from participants …
Creative Aging Professional Development for Librarians As part of Lifetime Arts IMLS National Leadership Grant, a two part professional development workshop engaged 40 librarians from the NY Metro Region in four sessions. Led by national experts, librarians learned about creative aging best practices, the nuts and bolts of program implementation and sustainability and what kinds of …
BEGINTAG2012/04/la-workshopv1.jpg?w=300ENDTAG In March 2012, the National Center for Creative Aging (NCCA) announced the winners of the MetLife Foundation Creativity and Aging in America Leadership Award, recognizing Lifetime Arts in the category Lifelong Learning. This Award honors exceptional programs in health and wellness, lifelong learning, and community engagement. The other winners were: Alzheimer’s Poetry Project, community …
The Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation has awarded Lifetime Arts, Inc. a grant to support their partnership with the Westchester Library System (WLS) – Creative Aging in New York State Public Libraries: a Regional Model with National Applicability. This two year project, funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services also includes the Brooklyn Public …
MetLife Foundation has awarded Lifetime Arts, Inc. a $125,000 grant to expand their groundbreaking work in creative aging through partnerships with Boston Public Library, Dallas Public Library and Miami-Dade Public Library. The MetLife Foundation Creative Aging Libraries Project is designed to increase the capacity of public libraries to serve older adults, provide models of high …
Lifetime Arts, the Westchester Library System (WLS) and the American Library Association announced today their receipt of a $450,000 National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. This two-year project, Creative Aging in New York State Public Libraries: a Regional …
April 2011 Susan Perlstein, the guru of Creative Aging, held teaching artists captive throughout the day long sessions – first in Albany at the NY State Museum on April 14th and then in NYC at University Settlement on April 16th. Facilitated by Hollis Headrick, these NYSCA funded workshops introduced K-12 teaching artists to Creative Aging …
