Creative Aging Foundations

Listen to Maura O’Malley, Lifetime Arts CEO/Co-Founder, explain why it’s time to think of older adults differently. This video gives a taste of the information covered in our training, and is one of our may companion resources.

Expand Your Impact. Deepen Your Practice. Elevate Your Programming.

Creative aging programming brings joy, sparks engagement, energizes spaces, and fosters meaningful connections among older adults and their communities. By participating in a Lifetime Arts open-enrollment training, you’ll gain research-backed expertise and practical tools to implement or support creative aging programming that empowers older adults and contributes to their mental and physical well-being.

More than 10,000 professionals across health, aging, arts, libraries, veteran services, and other sectors have successfully developed their creative aging practice with Lifetime Arts’ support. Now, it’s your turn.

Course Description

Whether you’re an artist, educator, or administrator, this training serves as a comprehensive guide to integrating creative aging into older adult programming, services, and care. Over three interactive, 2-hour sessions, you’ll explore creative aging’s best practices, engage in expert-led discussions, and participate in a live demonstration class. Courses are offered at least once per month, April-November.

What is Creative Aging?

Creative aging is the practice of using artistic and creative engagement to enhance well-being, boost physical and cognitive abilities, and enrich our overall quality of life as we age.

This is more than just a fulfilling pastime; it’s a crucial element of a healthy, vibrant life. Creative aging programming can take many forms, including but not limited to art classes, theater workshops, storytelling sessions, music-making, and intergenerational arts projects. These programs not only support healthy aging, but also break down stereotypes by showing that growth and creativity are possible at any age. Learn more about the health impacts of creative aging here.

Who Will Benefit?

Teaching Artists + Program Managers

State + National Agencies

Senior-Serving Organizations

Teaching Artists + Program Managers

State + National Agencies

Senior-Serving Organizations

Course Details

Format: Three 2-hour Zoom sessions held over three weeks

Capacity: Limited to 25 participants per session

Cost: $250 for individuals | $400 for organizations (up to 5 participants)

Custom Training Available: Have a larger team? Ask about tailored training and consulting packages

Need to request professional development funds to register? Here is a template letter you can use to start the conversation with your manager.

Topics Covered

Understand how the arts promote healthy aging, combat ageism, and reduce isolation.

Experience best practices firsthand in a live session led by a seasoned teaching artist.

Learn how to engage older adults and design culturally responsive programs.

Connect arts and non-arts sectors to create strong, sustainable collaborations.

Reduce barriers and increase accessibility in your programs.

Strengthen impact and attract new partners and funding sources through sustainable documentation techniques.

Training Dates

Tuesdays April 1st, 8th, and 22nd | 3-5pm ET

Limited Availability

Creative Aging Foundations

Thursdays May 3rd, 10th, and 7th | 4-6 pm PT

Limited Availability

Creative Aging Foundations

Tuesdays May 8th, 15th, and 22nd | 3-5pm ET

Limited Availability

Creative Aging Foundations

Tuesdays June 3rd, 10th, and 17th | 3-5pm ET

Creative Aging Foundations

Thursdays June 8th, 15th, and 26th | 4-6pm PT

Creative Aging Foundations

Thursdays July 10th, 17th, and 24th | 3-5pm ET

Creative Aging Foundations

Tuesdays August 5th, 12th, and 19th | 3-5pm ET

Creative Aging Foundations

Tuesdays September 9th, 16th, and 30th | 3-5pm ET

Creative Aging Foundations

Thursdays September 11th, 18th, and 25th | 4-6pm PT

Creative Aging Foundations

Tuesdays October 14th, 21st, and 28th | 4-6pm PT

Creative Aging Foundations

Thursdays October 16th, 23rd, and 30th | 3-5pm ET

Creative Aging Foundations

Thursdays November 6th, 13th, and 20th | 3-5pm ET

Lifetime Arts Training Team

Julie Kline

Director of Program Strategy

Vinny Mraz

Lead Trainer

Sarah Jacobus

Lead Trainer

The Creative Aging Resource Site is Your Course Companion

The Creative Aging Resource is Lifetime Arts’ free library of everything creative aging. From academic studies to news stories to tools and templates, this site holds a wealth of information.

Training + Strategic Support for Larger Teams

Our calendar of regularly scheduled Creative Aging Foundations trainings are designed for individuals, small organizations, and larger organizations who have a few new staff members to onboard. If you have a large team, or need help creating a plan to integrate creative aging into your organization’s services for older adults, Lifetime Arts is here for you! We offer custom training, coaching, and consulting packages, tailored to your specific community and needs.

Listening to my fellow writing instructors plan their classes and seeing how Lifetime Arts instructors incorporate socializing and movement into their presentations provided excellent models of how this type of instruction can work.

Teaching Artist

Nevada

I was surprised at how concrete/tangible this training felt. I left with clear ideas about how to move forward in developing programming for older and aging adults.

Adminstrator

Utah Division of Arts & Museums

My experience with this training supports Dr. Martin Luther King's principle of nonviolence: The beloved community is the framework of the future. Your training beautifully embodies this in practical ways.

Teaching Artist

Connecticut

Lifetime Arts brings together the bold ideas, practical strategies, and people to weave creative aging into the fabric of our communities.