Stories + News - Lifetime Arts

From Programs to Policy: What States Are Teaching Us About Creative Aging

info@lifetimearts.org (Lifetime Arts) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT

What does it take to make creativity a meaningful part of how communities support people as they age?

That question brought 48 state leaders from across the West together in Salt Lake City this summer for Lifetime Arts’ first Creative Aging Leadership Summit. They came from arts agencies, aging services, libraries, health, veterans services, and other sectors. Some represented states with years of creative aging work behind them. Others were just beginning. But they shared a larger goal: moving creative aging beyond individual programs and into the systems, partnerships, and policies that shape how people age.

Moving Creative Aging Policy into Action

info@lifetimearts.org (Lifetime Arts) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:00:00 GMT

We're halfway through 2026, and one thing is becoming increasingly clear: creative aging is moving from the margins to the center of healthy aging.

Nathan Majoros Leaves a Lasting Mark on Lifetime Arts

info@lifetimearts.org (Lifetime Arts) — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Laying the Groundwork for a National Movement

Picture this: It’s the year 2012, and Nathan Majoros is at the start of his career. Having recently completed a fine arts degree and a master’s in art teaching, he’s exploring job opportunities when he comes across a posting on the New York Foundation for the Arts website. Drawn in by the organization’s mission and grassroots beginnings, he can’t help but want to learn more.

New Arts on Prescription Pilot Launches

info@lifetimearts.org (Lifetime Arts) — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Southminster Launches Nation's First "Creative Aging on Prescription" Study with Major Research University and National Arts & Aging Experts

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 4, 2026 -- Southminster just announced that it has embraced a unique opportunity to become a national leader in arts-integrated wellness within continuous care retirement communities (CCRCs). It is partnering with Lifetime Arts and Wake Forest University's NeuroArts Lab to pilot the Creative Aging on Prescription initiative.

Lifetime Arts Calls for Creative Aging in Healthy Aging Policy

info@lifetimearts.org (Lifetime Arts) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Lifetime Arts Launches Landmark Effort on Creative Aging as Essential to Healthy Aging

A new policy brief with actionable recommendations calls on public and private sector leaders to embed arts participation into aging policy and practice.

The Art of Seeing People

Jean Keane — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

I meet strangers every day —
at work, in yoga class, grabbing coffee,
or just sitting on a bench at the beach.

Idaho Veterans Make Creative Aging Their Home

Jacqueline DuMont — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In the early morning light at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise and Lewiston, there’s a quiet but vibrant hum of creativity in motion. Paintbrushes glide across canvases, a paper collage of powerful words takes the shape of an American flag, intricate patterns are carved into leather belts, and stories, long held or newly discovered, rise up through laughter and connection.

For many residents, this isn’t just another activity: it’s creative aging— an essential pathway to connection, expression, and purpose. In our conversation with April Floyd, Activity Coordinator at the Boise Veterans Home; Larissa Dittman, Volunteer & Activities Coordinator at the Lewiston Veterans Home; and veteran residents, Boyd Ricks and Derry Rainey from the Lewiston Home, we explored how creative aging programs are changing veterans' lives, and why bringing art and connection right to their doorstep leaves a lasting impact.

From Omaha to The Sandhills: Nebraska’s Creative Aging Boom

Jacqueline DuMont — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

A Partnership Meets A Strategic Plan

https://vimeo.com/1116975394?share=copy

Participants from Nebraska's Creative Aging Program share their experiences. Click here to learn more about the program.

When Lifetime Arts teamed up with the Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) in 2021, creative aging was just beginning to catch on—the interest was real, the energy was high, and the timing was right to build momentum. As Anne Alston, NAC’s Program Specialist, recalled:

“Lifetime Arts helped provide not just information, but a framework—insight into what our teaching artists needed and how we could grow something lasting.”

What started with a few training sessions and a focus on building an artist roster has grown into a statewide effort. From Omaha to the Sandhills, artist residencies are happening in libraries, senior centers, and churches—bringing older adults together to create, connect, and celebrate themselves and their communities.

“We’re not just offering residencies,” said Joshua Brown, NAC’s Programs Coordinator. “We’re building relationships, empowering artists, and giving older adults the chance to shine.”

Where There’s a Town, There’s a Trusted Library

Participants during a painting program at Waterloo Public Library in Waterloo, NE. Credit: Joshua Brown

At NAC, libraries have become a key part of the plan. As Anne shared, in many rural towns, the library might be the only community hub around—so it’s the perfect place to reach older adults.

Joshua added that Lifetime Arts encouraged them to connect with libraries early on, which helped spark real partnerships—including teaming up on grants. This shift means creative aging programming is going where older adults live, gather and connect: in places they already know and trust.

Visual arts program at Waterloo Public Library in Waterloo, NE.

Painting program at La Vista Public Library in La Vista, NE.

Creative Aging = Universal Health Strategy

When we chatted about messaging, Joshua shared something key: “There’s just so much attention coming to issues of isolation and understanding how that impacts wellness.” Indeed, NAC has cast creative aging not just as an arts initiative, but as a universal health strategy, which has opened doors to funding and influential champions.

Anne described how a health‑insurance company—Medica—became a funder after being introduced by the library commissioner. The insurance exec, whose father is older and lives in a small town where a library is the only community hub, could clearly see the value of creative aging. With NAC’s new participant surveys (prompted by the Medica grant), NAC is building evidence of impact—stories and data that show creative aging can help connectedness, skill‑building and well‑being.

Rural Challenges, Lessons + Solutions

Growth doesn’t come without friction. Anne described a common rural‑state challenge: many of their experienced teaching artists live in the metro Omaha and Lincoln area—too far from the rural residencies to teach weekly classes. Driving 300 miles a week simply doesn’t work. The solution: travel statewide to recruit rural artists and train them in creative aging practices, creating a geographically diverse roster that reflects the state.

Joshua also related a lesson about working with communities that aren’t always traditional grantees—e.g., a Lakota church in western Nebraska. Despite some initial hesitancy, this grant became an impactful intergenerational program, thanks to the dedication of the community and the willingness of a local arts center to provide fiscal sponsorship. That flexibility—allowing grantees to design projects that responded to their local context rather than follow a rigid, one-size-fits-all model—led to unexpected opportunities.

Advice for Others Ready to Launch Creative Aging

If your agency or library system is building a creative aging network, here are NAC’s wise takeaways:

Leverage advocacy + training resources. Anne recommended tapping into organizations like Lifetime Arts: “[Their] training programs can help make a really strong case for the value.” Even a one-time workshop can open people’s eyes to what creative aging looks like. To keep that momentum going, NAC created a one-page dashboard—a simple, visual snapshot they now use to brief legislators, library directors, and community partners across the state.
Start small and build patiently. As Joshua said: “Patience is really important… small successes leading to big ones.” Growth doesn’t happen overnight. Begin with manageable pilot programs, let them thrive, then scale.
Identify the right partner in each institution. “Finding that one enthusiastic individual at an organization who will say, ‘Yes, I like this idea,’ and then you can build momentum with them,” Anne noted.
Expand beyond traditional arts hubs. Libraries, faith‑based organizations, senior centers—they’re potential sites for creative aging in communities where arts infrastructure may be limited.
Frame your work as both arts and health. Align creative aging programs to broader goals of social connectedness and healthy aging. That framing attracts new partners and funding.

What’s Next for Nebraska...

Looking ahead, NAC is positioned for growth and innovation. Anne shared that the council is investigating its role in the arts, health , and wellness sphere, and sees the creative aging arts programs as a key player. They’re updating evaluations to include health-focused questions, exploring which functions might be outsourced or scaled, and planning to train more teaching artists so rural communities are better served.

Joshua noted that since the program is growing more naturally now, they’re even thinking about passing some of the work to other partners (libraries, aging offices or major health providers), which speaks to shared leadership and sustainability.

At Lifetime Arts, we’re inspired by NAC’s journey—it’s been thoughtful, collaborative, and full of creativity. Their progress reflects what we believe at our core—and what more and more decision-makers are standing behind: creative aging isn’t an afterthought—it’s essential for connection, purpose, and health as we grow older.

What’s Next For Your State Art Agency?

Nebraska’s growing creative aging—and so are 25+ other state arts agencies. Ready to join them?

If you’re looking to jumpstart or grow creative aging programs in your state, we’ve got your back with the tools, training, and expertise to get you going. Learn more about our work with state arts agencies and connect with us!

Connect With Us!

Creative Aging Takes Root—and Grows Wild Across the West

Jacqueline DuMont — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Something monumental is taking root across the West. In Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Montana, and Idaho, state agencies, artists, and community partners are uniting around a simple idea: creativity can transform the way we age.

Utah’s First Creative Aging Festival Sparks a Statewide Movement

Jacqueline DuMont — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT

A Creative Spark—and a Whole Lot of HeART!

When Utah-based musician and gerontologist Emily Christensen began bringing together local artists and organizations to discuss creative aging, she had no idea it would grow into a two-week festival spanning the entire state.

Stories + News - Lifetime Arts

From Programs to Policy: What States Are Teaching Us About Creative Aging

What does it take to make creativity a meaningful part of how communities support people as they age?

Moving Creative Aging Policy into Action

Nathan Majoros Leaves a Lasting Mark on Lifetime Arts

Laying the Groundwork for a National Movement

New Arts on Prescription Pilot Launches

Southminster Launches Nation's First "Creative Aging on Prescription" Study with Major Research University and National Arts & Aging Experts

Lifetime Arts Calls for Creative Aging in Healthy Aging Policy

Lifetime Arts Launches Landmark Effort on Creative Aging as Essential to Healthy Aging

The Art of Seeing People

Idaho Veterans Make Creative Aging Their Home

From Omaha to The Sandhills: Nebraska’s Creative Aging Boom

A Partnership Meets A Strategic Plan

Participants from Nebraska's Creative Aging Program share their experiences. Click here to learn more about the program.

Where There’s a Town, There’s a Trusted Library

Participants during a painting program at Waterloo Public Library in Waterloo, NE. Credit: Joshua Brown

Visual arts program at Waterloo Public Library in Waterloo, NE.

Painting program at La Vista Public Library in La Vista, NE.

Painting program at La Vista Public Library in La Vista, NE.

Creative Aging = Universal Health Strategy

Rural Challenges, Lessons + Solutions

Advice for Others Ready to Launch Creative Aging

What’s Next for Nebraska...

What’s Next For Your State Art Agency?

Nebraska’s growing creative aging—and so are 25+ other state arts agencies. Ready to join them?

Creative Aging Takes Root—and Grows Wild Across the West

Utah’s First Creative Aging Festival Sparks a Statewide Movement

A Creative Spark—and a Whole Lot of HeART!

Creative Aging = Universal Health Strategy