Founded in 2008, Lifetime Arts, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working nationally to promote the creation, expansion and sustainability of professionally conducted arts programs for older adults. Through a variety of services and initiatives, Lifetime Arts provides practical support and resources to individuals and organizations that serve older adults.
Artists participate in a watercolor workshop sponsored by Lifetime Arts. Photo by artist Josh Millis
Lifetime Arts develops policy, demonstrates best practices and provides technical assistance, professional development and information services to support the design, funding and implementation of creative aging programs nationwide. Our mission is to encourage creative aging by promoting the inclusion of professional arts programs in organizations that serve older adults; to prepare artists to develop the creative capacity of older adult learners; and to foster lifelong learning in and through the arts by increasing opportunities for participation in intergenerational and community based programming.
Lifetime Arts has gained national recognition as a major contributor to the development of creative aging policies, best practices, and information services, artists training resources, technical assistance, and advocacy. Consultancies include the West Valley Arts Council in Arizona, Wartburg Adult Care Community, Mt. Vernon, NY, National Center for Creative Aging and the Bronx Council on the Arts.
Initiatives include:
- Creative Aging in Our Communities: the Libraries Project, a partnership program includes professional development for librarians and artists, incentive funding to support instructional arts programs for older adults in public libraries, and expert technical assistance. By the end of 2013, in partnership with seven major public library systems, Lifetime Arts will have supported 135 libraries – serving more than 2,100 older adults, employing over 120 artists and training over 200 librarians. 13,000 people will be reached through attendance at public culminating events. Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) will support the national dissemination of this work through a partnership with the American Library Association. Pilot projects in Dallas, Miami and Boston, supported by MetLife Foundation will be implemented during 2012-13.
- Artist Training Programs address the growing demand for qualified teaching artists. Training topics include: arts and aging research; adult learning; aging services; curriculum development; program documentation; and evaluation methodologies. Lifetime Arts has conducted training workshops in NYC and Albany and for NYC’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute.
- Lifetime Arts Creative Aging Roster, an online directory of teaching artists and organizations — peer reviewed, and qualified to design and deliver instructional arts programs for older adults. Senior service, arts and community organizations search the Roster to connect to and engage artists. The Roster is promoted and made available at no cost to senior service, arts and community organizations and libraries nationwide. Artists/organizations are accepted onto the Roster quarterly.