Blog Move

Dear Followers,

We have recently moved the Creativity and Aging Blog to the National Center for Creative Aging website. You can find this here: www.creativeaging.org/creativity-and-aging-blog/

Also, I regret to inform you that our dear friend and colleague Dr. Gene D. Cohen passed away on Saturday, November 7, 2009. For more information please visit the NCCA website: www.creativeaging.org.

-NCCA

StoryCorps

Today at a conference at the foot of the Capital, StoryCorps announced the launch of StoryCorps Historias, a new initiative recording the lives of Latinos across America. StoryCorps Historias plans to record 1,000 Latino stories which will be archived in the Library of Congress as well as given to the families who participate in order to create a recorded legacy for generations to come.

NCCA worked closely with the StoryCorps Memory Loss Initiative last March when they presented at our Health & Wellness Conference in Washington, DC. The Memory Loss Initiative is a wonderful program which allows people with Alzheimer's or other cognitive disabilities to record their stories for their families and again to be archived in the Library of Congress.

Today's speakers included Senator of New Mexico, Tom Udall, who finished his speech supporting the StoryCorps Historias Initiative by saying, "It is conversation that fuels the soul of our country."

Aging with Options

Like New York, Oregon is making sure that their older population is provided with creative options. The Volunteers of America Oregon and the LifeWorks NW and Urban League of Portland produced a report, "It takes a Village to Live a Life - A Community Assessment on Aging," to showcase the results from a two-year needs assessment of older adults and their caregivers. The report was put together in order to start a dialogue about how older adults in the Portland area can remain active members of a community and really participate in civic engagement. The highlights of the report were presented to community leaders on August 27 to raise awareness of foundations, government entities, nonprofit organizations and others to educate their audiences on the importance of community involvement among older adults. Find more Here.

New York Senior Artists Granted Space

Due to the recent efforts made by the New York City Council and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, senior artists have been granted 16 new free studio spaces to create their work. The New York City Council with the New York Academy of Medicine outlined 59 initiatives that will help New York be a more friendly city to older adults. Read more about other programs being implemented here.

New NCCA Fall Webinar Series with Gene Cohen, MD, PhD

The first webinar is on Monday, September 14 from 1 - 2:30 pm EDT.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: What is Aging After All
Creativity and Positive Changes Because of Aging, Not Despite It

Presenter: Gene D. Cohen, MD, PhD, Founder and Director of the Center on Aging, Health & Humanities of the George Washington University. Dr. Cohen was the principle investigator for the landmark study (funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts) The Impact of Professionally Conducted Cultural Programs on the Physical Health, Mental Health and Social Functioning of Older Adults. He is the author of numerous articles and two books: The Creative Age and The Mature Mind.

Dr. Cohen will present five webinar sessions based on his internationally acclaimed lecture series. Each session will be one and one half hours long.

Note: The other four webinars will be announced two weeks in advance of the presentation dates.

Pay by credit card at www.creativeaging.org using PayPal or send a check to NCCA.

Cost: $50 per webinar, all 5 webinars for $200

Organizational Members participate for free! Only $250 per year to join!

Visit www.creativeaging.org , email info@creativeaging.org or call (202) 895-9456 for more details.

Model Elderly Care: Mayor Bloomberg Touts Kinder, Gentler Senior Programs

New York City is rolling out a series of changes to help the aging population in the city. The plan includes making senior centers "model centers of wellness" including new activities and programs, using off duty school buses to take seniors to the grocery store during the day, offering discounts at health clubs and free air conditioners to seniors in poor health. Mayor Bloomber's office, the City of Council and the New York Academy of Medicine studied the challenges facing older adults and developed 59 recommendations to make life easier for the population. "The ideas that are in the 59 goals and initiatives today come directly from what seniors told us about transportation, civic engagement, housing and health care. We're going to make these ideas and suggestions a reality," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn
Daily News, August 2009
Read more about this article here

Funding Opportunity!

The Creative Aging in Our Communities: The Westchester Libraries Project is currently taking applications for their program. Up to eight grants will be awarded and for between $1,000 and $5,000 to libraries willing to provide a space for a workshop series, coordination and promotion, and hosting an exhibiton or performance at the library. Libraries are required to apply for the programming grants in partnership with professional arts organizatios and/or teaching artists.

Deadline: The applicaiton is due November 2, 2009 for programs taking place from January through May of 2010.

For more information and the application visit www.westchesterlibraries.org and www.lifetimearts.org.

News Brief - Medical Advocacy Mural Project

Health care reform is a hot topic this summer with debates and demonstrations around the country. Regina Holliday is speaking her part by traveling around Washington, D.C. painting murals to illustrate the need for health care reform after witnessing the downfalls of the system while her husband spent a significant amount of time in the hospital. An interesting video showcasing the Medical Advocacy Mural Project can be found here.

Call for Proposals - National Conference on Positive Aging

The National Conference on Positive Aging will be held on December 7-9 at Eckerd College - St. Petersburg, Florida.

The conference is currently requesting proposals for workshop presentations and demonstrations that will follow the keynote address in each theme area:

Life Transitions - The Life Transitions programs are devoted to models, ideas and distinctions about the critical transition triggers and issues for people in the second half of life. Goals of the initiative include: gaining new perspective on the process of making transitions to the second half of life; learn about approaches that track successes in facilitating transitions; make connections between life transitions and various aspects of our lives including wellness, community, and creativity/arts.

Creativity - Creativity is a way for adults later in life to enhance their physical health, enrich relationships and strengthen morale. Creative engagement is also a legacy that older people can leave their children, grandchildren, and society. Goals of the programs presented include: to gain new perspective on the role of creativity in program development for older adults; to learn about successful programs in visual arts, drama, music, dance and literature; to examine the role of older artists in society as models for successful aging.

Wellness - Wellness includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellness and relates strongly to personal purpose, quality of life, realistic expectations, and relationships with other people as well as nature. These focuses can be encouraged through exercise, disease prevention, health narratives, social engagement, practice of humanities and cultural change. Goals of this focus include: to understand the value of literary, visual, and performing arts in giving joy and purpose in life; to examine aspects of cultural change necessary to enhance the quality of life of elders; to develop a sense of wellness through intergenerational learning, among others.

Community - The community cluster will examine the role of community and sense of self in the world. It will focus on how people find their place in the face of challenge. Climate, neighbors, politics, passions, culture, services, money, health, values and family are all important aspects of a person's community, so exploring these things helps to define one's sense of place. Culture is also an extremely valuable aspect in community and should be explored in depth along with the above topics.

For more information about these clusters, visit - http://www.eckerd.edu/positiveaging

The proposals should address important issues pertaining to these themes submitted by September 11, 2009 by Email, Fax, or Mail.

Questions about proposals should be directed to Joan Karins at Karinsjr@eckerd.edu

Six-String Seniors: Students Prove it's Never too late to Rock

Pat Howe of La Plata, MD, had to undergo open skull surgery after having a brain aneurysm. After deciding at a college course would be a little too stressful, the 63-year-old school teacher decided to pick up the guitar, something she had never tried before. Howe said, "[My friends said] 'you got divorced, went to school and got your teaching degree at 50. You'll be a rock start when you're 65.'" Howe attends guitar classes at the Waldorf Senior Center for beginners who have never had the time to learn the instrument. Charlesetta Welsh, another member of the class said, "I've always been excited to learn. It's never too late. I'm 74 going on 75. I wanted to do something I've never done before and it's fun. I'll keep coming; I'm not going to give up."
Read the story here

Facebook!

NCCA has joined facebook!

Join our group and learn about upcoming events, new articles in the field, and use as a networking tool to see who in your area is a part of the creative aging cause!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107689248422

Storytelling Uniting Generations

Storytelling is a magnificant way to bring older adults and youth together to share a creative activity. Older adults are the keepers of culture, essential in relaying the past and sharing experiences with younger generations.

In the article, Aging Well: Resurrecting the Art of Storytelling, Tamera Manzanares describes the storytelling program, Spellbinders. Spellbinders started in the 1980s and trains retirees from all over the world and with disabilities to read and tell stories to elementary aged children. Spellbinders is benifical for the listeners as much as the storytellers. "The reward of seeing the children and having them so enthralled with your stories is just so much satisfaction," said Norma Roscoe, a storyteller and chapter leader for Mesa County Spellbinders.

NCCA Summer Webinar Series

Webinars are a wonderful way to bring people from around the country together to obtain the most current information on research, programming, and development of arts programs for older adults from highly trained professionals. They are an opportunity to network with professionals in the aging and arts fields locally and nationally without ever leaving your office or home. Our next two webinars in the summer series are:

August 5, 2:00 pm EDT - Practice: Learn the effective practices and case studies for developing programs in lifelong learning, health and wellness, and civic engagement. Presented by Andrea Sherman, PhD, NCCA Master Teaching Artist and President, Transitional Keys.

August 12, 2:00 pm EDT - Resource Development: Learn how to build partnerships, compound existing resources and find new revenue streams to create and sustain creative aging programs. Presented by Gay Hanna, PhD, MFA, Executive Director, NCCA

Cost: $50 per webinar. Pay by credit card from our website using PayPal. Organizational Members participate for Free! See our website for more details: www.creativeaging.org

Creative Aging News Brief

The arts and aging field is ever expanding with new research and programs proving the importance of creativity later in life. NCCA will feature a story every week of outstanding older adults, artists, programs and ideas from around the world who exemplify the significance of creativity when aging.

Dance of a Lifetime in a Lifetime of Dance
At 99-years-old Ida Arbeit is preparing for her next performance onstage with the intergenerational Kairos Dance Theater for "Dancing With Ida," a show based on her dancing experiences in New York City. Arbeit was a professional dancer for 12 years with Helen Tamiris, one of the pioneers of modern dance. She quit dancing to raise her family and teach music to children, but is back in action and on stage performing with people of all ages. Arbeit has shared her numerous moves and stories from her adventures and experiences performing over the years.
Read more about this story at: http://www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/47165432.html?page=2&c=y

To receive NCCA's monthly newsbrief containing more articles like these become and individual NCCA member for Free!

Positively Ninety Exhibit

POSITIVELY NINETY: Interviews with Lively Nonagenarians
by Connie Springer: Writer, Photographer and Archivist


The Opening Reception of Exhibit Photos and Narratives is August 7, 2009, 6 - 8 p.m. at the Anderson Center Government Building, 7850 Five Mile Road, Anderson Township, OH 45230

For information about the venue, call the Anderson Center at (513) 688-8400

The exhibit will run from August 7 - September 3, 2009

For more information, contact Connie Springer at larkspur@fuse.net

Visit Connie's website at http://www.conniespringer.com

Time to Move Conference in the United Kingdom

There will be a national conference in the United Kingdom on July 9 & 10, 2009 to celebrate older people dancing. The sponsoring organization, Take Art, is the Arts Development Agency for Somerset in the UK and they have been working with older people and creative dance for the past 3 years.

The conference will bring together artists, participants, agencies, politicians and decision makers to inspire and inform the future of dance with older people.

For more information and to download a brochure, go to:
http://www.takeart.org/dance/TimetoMoveConference.html

Civic Engagement Symposium in San Francisco

Creative Age Symposium: Creating Creative Futures!

On June 12, 2009 at the Sutton Place Hotel, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Held in conjunction with the Creative Age Festival, this one-day symposium showcases various initiatives and opportunities that are enhancing the depth and breadth of the field of arts and aging. This symposium will provide you with an opportunity to energize and revitalize yourself by exploring new ideas, developing skills, sharing information and identifying opportunities for collaboration and growth in relation to creative aging. Be inspired by the many interesting and timely presentations on best practices, innovations, and research at this year’s symposium! The lead keynote speaker, Dr. Gene Cohen will describe the benefits of the arts, including how artistic engagement enhances the function of the aging brain. He will also highlight how research and other approaches and structures can help to create a creative future for seniors in the millennium. jill p. weaving will present on the accomplishments of the Vancouver Arts, Health and Seniors Project.

Symposium Objectives:

Increasing awareness of initiatives in different areas in support of creative aging; Networking, and sharing information; Contributing to directions for policy, practice and research.

The symposium will be attended by decision makers, health professionals and arts and aging practitioners*, gerontologists, researchers, those working in the arts, culture and heritage areas, students, interested seniors, senior arts practitioners, donors and others interested in the area of arts and aging.

[ *Artists, art therapists, art educators, recreation therapists, occupational therapists, long term care workers, physicians, nurses, etc., as well others ].

There is a special registration offer for students, seniors and Greying Nation Conference participants!

For more information go to http://www.creativeagefestival.ca/festival_symposium.html

For The Poet Within

Two opportunities to Submit Your Poetry for Publication

Call for Poems: Celebrating Poets over 70

Tower Poetry Society (www.towerpoetry.ca) and The McMaster Centre for Gerontological Studies are soliciting poems written after the poets have reached the age of 70. Selected poems will be published in a jointly sponsored anthology. “Celebrating Poets over 70” will be the tenth volume in the Writing Down Our Years series published by MCGS.

A maximum of four typed poems may be submitted. Send your poems and a 50-word biography by email to Ellen Ryan (ryaneb@mcmaster.ca) or by mail to:

“Celebrating Poets over 70”
Tower Poetry Society
c/o McMaster University
1280 Main St. W., Box 1021
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 1C0.

Individuals with poems selected will receive a free copy of the anthology.

DUE DATE: November 15, 2009

For Poets of all ages:

Send Up to 4 poems to the Society. There is no theme requirement or fee.

Deadlines:
Summer Issue, the end of February
Winter Issue, the end of August

Send your poems to the address listed above.

If your poem be accepted you will receive one free copy of the issue in which it is printed.

Economy Down, Creativity Up!

It’s everywhere. People are struggling and businesses are closing. Assumed to be the longest recession since World War II, the economy has faltered and sent tremors rippling down Wall Street, along Main Street and near you.

In such a somber environment, it is prime time for creativity to stand up and get noticed. And it’s everywhere. People are reaching for new experiences, businesses are reinventing themselves and the light continues to shine bright on flexibility, change and imagination.

We are living the adage of “Necessity is the Mother of Invention”. Spending less is the necessity; invention is a panorama of new avenues to explore and new solutions to deploy. To save money, people are changing their ways. Sharon Kraynak, a salesperson at an art store in Philadelphia, responds to many new customers asking for information and advice about different products. Sharon observed, ‘They have decided not to go away on vacation so they want to do something creative at home instead. There is so much pressure to hold their jobs that this is a healthy release for them.’ Creative pursuits remain strong. Kathleen Lenkeit, 59, works for the state of California and knows about holding her job while maintaining her hobby of knitting. “The Governor furloughed us 2 days each month, for a 10% pay cut.” says Kathleen “Now there's talk of a 3rd furlough day each month (with another 5% pay cut), so I'm trying to be conservative in what I'm buying. But, a gal's got to have her yarn and patterns to stay calm!’ Another crafter has turned ways of being frugal to her advantage. “I used to enjoy shopping for my craft supplies but when the economy took a nose dive, I changed my approach” says Joan Lobenberg, 74, “and now I enjoy integrating found objects in my work. There is no cost, the elements are unique and my work has generated lots of interest.”

Interest in art has escalated. Museums in the western part of New York State have realized increased attendance and membership despite reduction of funds. And it is also in cities across the country. "Rochester is a microcosm for the entire country," said Dewey Blanton, spokesman for the American Association of Museums in Washington, D.C. "Attendance has never been stronger because in tough times people rely on museums for respite and renewal. But attendance doesn't pay all the bills."
Struggling to pay bills is a big problem for many seniors so the education sector is getting creative. Colleges and universities are growing their courses and workshops to adjust to an increased demand by unemployed older adults needing career support. Retirement, once within grasp, is now years away. In 2008, Maryland's Anne Arundel Community College had almost 14,000 adult students aged 50 and older. In response to this growing demographic, they have developed more resources to help them. "We're getting a lot more requests from people who are going back to work," said Terry Portis, director of AACC's Center on Aging. "As a result, we’re trying to beef up our career counseling area."

With these financial social changes, comfort zones have shifted. The new imperative is to think outside the box, adapt to new turf, relish new challenges and find reasons to be grateful. Reframing, the process of looking at something in a different way from different angles, is a helpful technique to navigate through this tough economy. It’s having a new lens to generate a vision of opportunities to survive, and even thrive, in this economy.

Albert Einstein said: "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."

--By Judith Zausner