On Saturday May 21st, the Center on Aging and Community at Indiana University will present a workshop entitled "The Art of Aging: Life Enrichment for the Arts." The event, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Indiana Memorial Union on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University, is part of the City of Bloomington's 2016 Creative Aging Festival.
Presenters will include two of the country’s most creative and experienced practitioners bringing the arts to older adults: Gary Glazner is the founder and Executive Director of the Alzheimer's Poetry Project, whose internationally influential mission is to facilitate the creativity of people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. He will speak on “Celebrating Creativity in Elder Care.” Kareen King will present “The Golden Experience Educational Concert: How to Meet the Most Fundamental Needs of Older Adults.” She is a Registered Drama Therapist, recording artist, and founder of The Golden Experience™, designed to enrich and improve quality of life for those in long-term care and their caregivers.
“Art & Aging: The Role of the Teaching Artist” is an additional presentation that will allow participants to become familiar with requirements for achieving Certified Teaching Artist status via the National Center for Creative Aging. Speaker Julie Hill is a Certified Teaching Artist and Life Enrichment Director. She is the founder and chair of the Bloomington Creative Aging Festival. Krista Detor is a professional singer, songwriter, and recording artist.
The workshop is intended for artists in all genres; activities directors, direct care workers, nurses, and administrators in long term care; senior housing managers and personnel; social services professionals; volunteers; and students in gerontology. Attendees will learn best practices for engaging older adults in creative, arts-related enrichment activities, understand the significant physical, social and cognitive benefits associated with arts engagement in later life, and meet fellow arts advocates committed to bringing life through the arts to older adults in all settings.
With events held throughout the month of May, Bloomington’s Sixth Annual Creative Aging Festival highlights the artistic talents of older adults; promotes intergenerational understanding through dialogue, sharing traditions, and storytelling; and increases awareness about the value of creative engagement to adult health and well being. A complete calendar of festival events is located at http://bloomington.in.gov/coa.
Registration for the event is $25, available online at http://go.iu.edu/19fC. Continuing Education Credits will be offered. For more information visit: www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/art-of-aging.
