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| Maura O'Malley and Ed Friedman |
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What do you do when there is no roadmap (and no road)?
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You get to work. Maura O'Malley and Ed Friedman launched Lifetime Arts in 2008 because they recognized the enormous opportunity to
flip the script on aging in America.
Maura and Ed were in good company. With more and more Americans living longer lives - policy makers, senior service organizations, foundations, and researchers began pointing to arts engagement as a key component of aging (and living) well.
Since 2008, Lifetime Arts has been at the forefront of
Creative Aging
- partnering with public libraries, museums, senior housing sites, senior centers, arts councils, performing and visual arts organizations across
25 states to bring arts education workshops to older adults
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We've launched over
500
programs, served nearly
10,000
older adults across America, and have trained more than
1,000
teaching artists and hundreds of librarians, arts, and senior service staff to implement these programs. Most importantly, we have
changed hearts and minds
by encouraging these professionals to think differently about older adults - to see them as whole people brimming with life experience, and as "beginners" eager to learn new skills and express themselves in a socially-engaging environment.
The impact of these efforts can best be conveyed in testimonials like these:
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"I need to make new things happen in my life, not easy to do when you're 73. So, I turned to the library for information. I was pleasantly surprised to find you offered programs designed for seniors. Ten strangers showed up for a class called, "Playback Theatre." We were a diverse group ... with little else in common except age. By the end of the class we were all friends. I'm looking for more!"
- Program Participant, AZ
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"The training provided by Lifetime Arts inspired our program planners to up their game. They learned how midlife and older adults thrive in a learning environment that fosters skills mastery and social connection. Our staff now have more tools in their program toolbox to curate programs that engage older adults."
- Program Manager, MN
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These first ten years have gotten us warmed up for what we see as an ever-increasing need for our work. We are ready and excited for the next ten!
"Who Knew?" and "I'm Still Here." :)
For their personal takes on what it means to celebrate 10 years of Lifetime Arts, visit our website to read short reflections written by
Maura and
Ed.
Below are some examples of what we are doing right now as well as some headlines about what lies ahead. Thank you for your attention and support.
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Please join us for our first-ever gala event and 10th Anniversary celebration happening in New York City at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion, home of the Ukrainian Institute of America, on Thursday, June 21, 2018. We will honor
Ellen A. Michelson and
Ashton Applewhite with the kind help of
John Leland and
Eddie Torres. Come and meet these movers and shakers making a positive impact on arts and aging in America.
Tickets are on sale now
If you have already purchased your tickets, thank you very much! Tickets are going fast for this sure to be fun, intimate cocktail event in a gorgeous setting overlooking Central Park at dusk. Buy yours or donate today at
lifetimearts.org/gala.
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HOST COMMITTEE
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Hollis Headrick
Allison Jaffe
Robert McNulty
Lucille Renwick
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Raymond Santiago
Diantha Dow Schull
Jorge Szendiuch
Doug Wingo
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Event Sponsors (as of May 31):
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Announcing a New Collaboration with Aroha Philanthropies and the American Alliance of Museums
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| Museums are natural places for Creative Aging programming, and a new collaboration among Aroha Philanthropies, the American Alliance of Museums, and Lifetime Arts will support this work via Aroha's Seeding Vitality Arts in Museums initiative, announced on May 29, representing a philanthropic investment of over $1MM by the foundation. Lifetime Arts is thrilled to be a partner in this next wave of national programming in America's museums. |
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Current Programming Highlights
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| There are 30 arts workshops happening in NYC this year as part of the Catalyzing Creativity initiative supported by the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation. The Seeding Vitality Arts U.S. initiative supported by Aroha Philanthropies will see an additional 15 arts organizations offer workshops this year. Visit our website to learn more, watch a video, and view a slideshow. |
Lifetime Arts will be on the road in June and July, heading to Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to deliver training to teaching artists at the University of the Arts Teaching Artist Symposium, and to librarians in the Wisconsin State Library System. Beginning in the second half of 2018, we will commence one of the largest training initiatives in the nation in collaboration with the
New York Community Trust, the
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and
Department for the Aging, and
Dr. Ruth Finkelstein of the
Brookdale Center on Aging at Hunter College.
Learn more.
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"Ed Talks" on Arts and Aging (Mostly)
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Between everything that is happening with older adults in the arts, and with Ed Friedman personally as an artist, he has lots to write about each month in a feature we call, "Ed Talks." Check out these recent timely, substantive, and humorous essays:
Ed Talks About Older Adults on Stage and Screen, May 11, 2018
Told Ya! Science Confirms the Arts are Still Good for You, April 18, 2018
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Social Life + New Email List Options
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The best way to see who we are meeting and where in the world we are is to follow us on Instagram (@lifetime_arts). We are also active on Twitter (@lifetimearts), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/lifetimearts/).
You are already receiving our newsletter, but did you know that you could specify which types of updates you receive from us? Visit our Contact page to let us know what types of emails you want to receive from us. Thanks!
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Visit Us in Our New Space
After eight years in an office that left much to be desired, we were honored to move into a new space this past February which was designed for us by Jorge Szendiuch, AIA, LEED AP in the
historic Kaufman Building in New Rochelle, NY.
A long-time home for creatives, Terrytoons Animation was based here, the building is currently owned by the same family that runs Kaufman Studios.
Our new address is 271 North Avenue, Suite 901, New Rochelle, NY 10801. The office is located directly across street from the Metro North station.
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