Indiana Arts Commission Awards $20,000 Grants to Support Arts Programming for Older Adults
The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced today that nine arts organizations have received training and grant funding through Lifelong Arts for Arts Organizations, a program that promotes arts and creativity services for adults ages 65 and older. Nine organizations from around the state will each receive $20,000 to host programming for older adults, supported by the Indiana Arts Commission in partnership with the Family and Social Services Administration, and made possible by a grant provided by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in partnership with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy.
“We are proud to deepen our work in creative aging thanks to the partnership of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, Aroha Philanthropies, and the Family and Social Services Administration,” said Miah Michaelsen, IAC Executive Director. "Meaningful, professional arts experiences are a proven tool to improve the psychological, physical, and emotional health of older adults, and it is a privilege to work with arts organizations to provide these benefits to Hoosiers.”
The organizations receiving funding, and the projects they will support, include:
• The Honeywell Foundation, Inc. (Wabash, IN) - Senior Perspectives: Observational Art Class
• Iibada Dance Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Seasoned Feet
• South Shore Arts (Munster, IN) - Every Generation: Without Limitations
• Art Barn School of Art, Inc. (Valparaiso, IN) - Art Within Reach: Drawing and Creative Watercolor
• Fort Wayne Dance Collective, Inc. (Fort Wayne, IN) - Apple City Dance Project
• Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, Inc. (Lafayette, IN) - Playback: Moving Through Our Memories
• Heartland Sings Inc. (Fort Wayne, IN) - Timeless Tunes for All Singers
• ArtMix Inc. (Indianapolis, IN) - Narrating with Colors
• The Jack & Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts (Michigan City, IN) - 2D Art and Design
Fort Wayne Dance Collective will be working with the Renaissance Pointe YMCA on the Apple City Dance Project, which will provide 8-week dance sessions designed specifically for adults ages 55 and up. Each dance session will be focused on creating a welcoming and fun environment where participants will learn a variety of basic dance steps in different styles, while having input on music selection, and the chance to work as a group to create movement inspired by their lives.
ArtMix's program, "Narrating with Colors", is an introductory painting class designed to combat social isolation and build community for aging adults with and without disabilities. Throughout the eight-week session, attendees will learn foundational painting skills while engaging in weekly group discussions about the story of their life. The culmination of the class will be a collaborative mural that weaves the artists' stories together.
Learn more about each of the funded projects on the IAC website.
Participating organizations were selected through an application and panel process and have attended three days of training hosted by Lifetime Arts, a national leader in best practices of creative aging.
Lifelong Arts for Arts Organizations is an expansion of the IAC’s portfolio of opportunities for the state’s older adults. The program joins existing programs for artists and aging services providers in partnership with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.