Our culture becomes ever richer. Each day I learn about more resources and ideas for olders, and in particular for Women of a Certain Age.
So much is happening right now at the nexus of creativity and aging. At the beginning of June I attended the International Creative Aging Summit, an annual online event hosted by a different country each year. The 2023 Summit was organized by Lifetime Arts in the United States. Other sponsor organizations include the Creative Ageing Development Agency (CADA) in England and the ARMAS Festival in Finland.
One of the key concepts discussed at the summit was social prescribing. Many people go to the doctor for reasons unrelated to physical health, and the goal of social prescribing is to enhance healthy life expectancy through creativity. A patient might leave the physician’s office with a prescription for singing, walking, painting, or writing. The combination of social connection and creativity is especially powerful to enhance life experience. Social prescribing has been practiced in the United Kingdom at an organization called Arts and Minds for almost fifteen years, and is gaining acceptance elsewhere. In the United States, I have taught writing classes for Secure Senior Connections, which is funded by medical insurance companies enhance the health of people over 65 through creativity and social engagement.
One of the key resources explored at the summit was the public library. Veronda J. Pitchford of the Califa Group (a nonprofit library consortium in California) stressed that creativity is a human right, and that libraries have an important role to play in creative aging. Libraries are connectors and conduits, and one of the most trusted and welcoming places in communities. Veronda said that program directors in libraries are often open to creative programming, whether it is a reading series for local authors or a creative writing program for olders. As a funding model, Veranda suggested working with:
- Programming Librarians at the local level
- Statewide continuing education coordinators
- The library board, introducing programs as community resources
Challenges in funding creative programs for olders came up several times during the two day summit. In the United States, state level funding for olders tends to focus on health issues, while statewide funding for creative programs tends to target youth. This bifurcation reflects the social stereotypes about older adults, but not the reality. A participant at the summit, Ferrell Ramowden, shared research showing that those aged 65+ value creativity and cultural participation higher than many other activities that most people think would be critical, including access to healthcare and physical activity.
Yet opportunities to fund creative programs for olders do exist and are on the upswing. State agencies for the arts can be resources, and certain philanthropic organizations have a keen interest in this area (including E.A. Michelson Philanthropy and the Baring Foundation). One speaker from Senior Planet said he is constantly thinking about ways to bring in resources. He advocates becoming the dominant feature in whatever niche you occupy so that it is clear you have value to add.
The conference also featured inspiring video presentations of creative programs for older adults. One of the highlights was a video about The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, a restaurant in Japan that employs workers with dementia. It’s very short and well worth watching. And check out this treasure trove of videos that help share the story of creative aging available through E.A. Michelson Philanthropy's website.
And here is a set of films about connecting through culture as we age.
The summit emphasized the need for intersectional and intercultural connections. The closing presentation was by Kunle Adewale, Founder and Executive Director of the Arts in Medicine Projects. Their work bringing digital creativity to older adults in rural Nigeria has been showcased in The Guardian and other publications. The program encourages older adults, many with dementia, to dance using virtual reality renderings of indigenous musicians, And with iPads as their canvases, older adults create multilayered self-portraits and other art. The project unlocks the freedom of expression without interrupting or micromanaging engagement—the very definition of creativity as play. The Arts in Medicine project honors people as experts in their own lived experience.
Later in June I learned about the “Flip the Script” exhibit hosted by the UK National Innovation Centre for Aging. The Centre had invited participants to choose a question to answer about aging, and then cast each participant’s hand in a position indicating how they felt about the question they chose from this menu:
Q1. Looking to the past, what has life taught you so far? We want you to share your words of wisdom.
Q2. When have you wanted to flip the script? We want to hear about a time when you challenged society’s expectations around age.
Q3. Looking ahead, what do YOU want for yourself and what do you think SOCIETY should do to ensure a longer, healthier and more joyful future?
Any of these questions would make great writing prompts!
Following the exhibit, the Centre for Aging is creating a digital tool to capture participants’ collective insights that will help create a new narrative about ageing. They call this #ageing intelligence.
This month I also listened in on a one-hour workshop presented by Debra Benfield. Debra is a registered dietician in her mid-sixties who focuses on the intersectionality of gendered ageism and body liberation. In her workshop, Debra emphasized the level of freedom older women in particular can regain by coming into right relationship with our bodies. We regain the freedom to pursue creative expression when we are fully embodied.
Debra emphasized that you are the expert on your body. She encouraged a focus on how your choices make you feel: what nourishment, movement, and mindfulness practices support your peace and joy. She encouraged participants to develop self-compassion as a practice to open space for curiosity.
Debra explored the concept of pro-aging, which invites us to return to the authentic self. Pro-aging invites us to excavate and dismantle our internal ageism, which developed because we have been exposed to the fairy tales about older women since we ourselves were children.
And then Debra opened up the topic of aging with body liberation: What would it be like for us as women who are in this powerful time in our lives to step away from the concept that we should be denied in any aspects of life? These include relationships (especially each woman’s relationship with herself), fashion, and how we advocate for ourselves in the healthcare system. She encouraged participants to find freedom in how we relate and care for our bodies through boundary setting, connection, and honoring our body’s wisdom.
Debra also leads an eight-week session with topics that include dismantling internalized ageism and dismantling internalized diet culture. All of this involves taking small steps in the direction of making caring choices about our bodies.
Last but not least, this month I’ve been playing with Google Bard (an experimental AI tool), and with its help I found more Creative Aging resources including the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging in New York, and on the Creative Aging page of the National Assembly of State Art Agencies. Google Bard also gave me a nonexistent resource which I won’t trouble you with—just to say that AI can be a bit of a scoundrel. Or maybe it’s just getting a head start on creative aging.
Speaking of which, I hope that as we head into July, you’ll keep the pen moving (or the keys clicking). We keep building our culture, story by story.
All best wishes,
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