Arts Commission expands program to bring arts and creativity to older adults

(INDIANAPOLIS) The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today a new partnership with Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Division of Aging geared towards benefiting older adults in Indiana. 

Lifelong Arts Indiana is a learning opportunity for aging services providers and artists to develop their skills in providing creative experiences for older adults. The program equips participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide impactful creative experiences for older adults, ages sixty-five and older, in their community– and provides access to the funds to help make it happen. 

“Through national research and previous agency work in this area, we have seen the immense impact that creative activity has on Indiana’s older adults,” said Miah Michaelsen, IAC Executive Director. “We are incredibly grateful for the partnership of the FSSA to bring training and funding to support this work around the state.” 

Lifelong Arts Indiana has two tracks, one for teaching artists and the other for aging services providers.  

Teaching artists can apply to be a part of the Lifelong Arts Indiana Artist Cohort. Selected participants complete a virtual, three-day workshop led by Lifetime Arts, a national leader in creative aging program development.  Training will explore best practices in creative aging and strategies to develop an effective, sequential arts learning experience for older adults.  Following training, participants will receive personal coaching and up to $1,500 via an Early Action Grant opportunity.  The deadline to apply for the artist cohort is March 30, 2023.  

Apply to be a part of the artist cohort.

Aging services providers can sign up for one of four free, in-person workshops. The training sessions are as follows:

• April 28, 2023: Fort Wayne 
• June 23, 2023: Bloomington 
• Sept. 19, 2023: Evansville 
• Nov. 14, 2023: Gary

Sign up to attend a training for aging services providers. 

The trainings are designed for professionals in the aging services community, such as area agencies on aging, senior centers, or other community-based senior serving organizations, and will focus on information about creative aging theory, step-by-step planning support, practical application of the learnings, and the opportunity for grant support.