On Friday, January 15, 2016, the Arizona Commission on the Arts officially kicked-off its AZ Creative Aging initiative with a morning event at Phoenix Art Museum. Introduction to Creative Aging: Myths of Aging and the Power of the Arts was attended by over 130 individuals from all across the state, representing the full breadth of the Creative Aging field, from teaching artists to healthcare professionals to administrators of community and arts organizations. 

Update: On February 20, AZ Creative Aging will visit Tucson with Introduction and Approaches to Creative Aging, an experiential workshop about Creative Aging and how arts engagement benefits older adults. Guest artists, Maria Genné and Jane Tygesson will share some of the latest research in Creative Aging and lead an interactive exploration of the different approaches used across the continuum of care. Click here to learn more.

drnieri1After a brief introduction by the Arts Commission’s Director of Arts Learning, Alex Nelson, and a welcome from Christian Adame, Phoenix Art Museum‘s Assistant Education Director, the morning’s first speaker took the podium. Dr. Walter Nieri, Director of the Center for Health Aging at Banner Sun Health Research Institute, delivered an informative and entertaining presentation on current research on healthy aging and the factors that contribute to quality of life. Beyond providing the latest data and statistics, Dr. Nieri offered practical tips for living a long and healthy life and established a solid foundation for the morning’s second speaker to build on.

merced1Jorge Merced, Associate Artistic Director of New York-based Pregones Theater and a pioneering practitioner of creative aging principles and techniques, offered the keynote address. His interactive presentation activated bodies and minds, inviting audience members to physically place themselves along a spectrum of thought on issues related to aging and creativity. Through this exercise, Merced addressed common biases and misconceptions while leading an open dialogue about how our attitudes toward aging and the older adult population affect our approach to both.

merced2The morning event was only the beginning for eleven attendees–the recently selected cohort of AZ Creative Aging‘s Teaching Artist Institute gathered for the first time that afternoon, receiving further instruction from Merced as well as the institute’s mentors, master teaching artists Tessa Windt and Elizabeth Johnson. We’ll be introducing the members of this cohort and talking more about their training in later posts.

The Arts Commission and the AZ Creative Aging team thank the presenters and all those who attended this kickoff event.

AZ Creative Aging is an initiative of the Arizona Commission on the Arts funded by a grant from Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

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