I hope you've had an enjoyable and adventure-filled summer! Creative Aging in Utah has had some exciting moments in the past few months, and we have exciting possibilities to discuss in our future. Our next Meeting of the Minds will be on Tuesday, October 29 from 1:00 - 2:30 pm. Mark you calendars - and read on!
LIFETIME ARTS VISITS UTAH!
June 3, 2024: Lifetime Arts facilitated the Creative Aging Foundations Training for Utah Arts & Museums. Thirty participants attended, consisting of leadership, staff members, or volunteers of cultural organizations, libraries and facilities that serve older adults. Also in attendance were artists who are interested in teaching art to older adult populations. We welcome this new cohort of Creative Aging partners!
June 4, 2024: Utah Arts and Museums hosted, as Lifetime Arts gave a special presentation to the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement. Attendees included UA&M Department leadership, as well as representatives from Utah State Libraries, UServe Utah, Utah Historical Society and Utah STEM. In addition, representatives from Veterans Affairs, Utah Commission on Aging and Utah Health and Human Services were also in attendance. It was exciting to watch as participants learned about Creative Aging. Light bulbs lit up as people began to imagine how they could include Creative Aging in their own programs. This was a big step in awareness and excitement for Creative Aging in Utah!
Utah is part of the "Advancing Creative Aging in Westerns States" initiative. Lead by Lifetime Arts, this partnership is designed to deepen and sustain collaboration among state agency partners to advance creative aging in the Western region. Other state partners include Nevada, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Learn more here!
If you would like to connect with Creative Aging stakeholders across the country, check out Lifetime Art’s Creative Aging Collaborative (The Co-Lab). This new interactive community space is for program staff, teaching artists, and administrators who have attended Lifetime Arts’ Creative Aging Foundations Training. Continue learning, networking, and improving your practice with real talk, advice, insights, and stories of inspiration from fellow Co-Lab members, guest speakers, and Lifetime Arts staff. Click here for more information.
Last spring the Utah Creative Aging Coalition zoomed in to our first “Meeting of the Minds”. What a great chance to get to know fellow Creative Aging colleagues and share ideas about the future! In a nutshell, these were the questions that were discussed:
How do we reach more Older Adults?
Where can we find funding?
How can the coalition become a tight network of partners?
How can we raise awareness about Creative Aging to older adults, grant sources, the legislature and the general public?
OSHER Lifelong Learning and SLC Libraries offered some of their resources. Check out how they can help!
OSHER Lifelong Learning can help with advertising and teaching opportunities.
One of the items discussed in our April meeting was the possibility of a “Creative Aging Day”. A big undertaking for sure! But offering an event like this could meet all of the needs that were discussed: It could be the outreach tool we need to reach more older adults, educate funders and legislators, and strengthen relationships within the coalition.
Creative Aging Festivals are being held across the world. They last anywhere from a day to a month. They are held in a central location or country-wide. Here are a few to fuel your imagination:
I can't wait to hear about YOUR creative aging projects over the past six months - and have some thoughtful discussion about the future of Creative Aging in Utah.
Looking Forward,
Emily Christensen, MS, MT-BC
Utah Creative Aging Coalition
Arts & Aging Coordinator, Jewish Family Service
emily@jfsutah.org
Utah Creative Aging Coalition | 495 E 4500 S Suite 100 | Salt Lake City, UT 84107 US
