Policy and Advocacy
An Overview of the Arts Advocacy Campaign
Why a Campaign?
The whole of society benefits when older adults, with their wisdom and lifetime of experience, are given opportunities to transmit their skills and perspectives through creative activities. In addition, new groundbreaking research on the impact of participation in quality arts and cultural programming points to a vital relationship between creative expression and health aging. Creativity matters!
Happily, there is a growing recognition of this both among practitioners in the field of aging and in the arts. But there are few resources for "arts and aging" programs. We need to raise broad public awareness as to their importance—for the well being of elders and the health of our communities.
The Goal:
To raise public awareness and to win support for the establishment of a new stream of federal funding dedicated to arts and aging programming.
Together, We Can Make It Happen!
The National Center for Creative Aging is coordinating the Art of Aging Campaign in partnership with groups and organizations across the country.
Join us!
Major activities include:
- holding of a national policy conference preceded by town hall meetings conducted across the country
- signing a national petition calling for a referendum leading to the legislation of a separate stream of funding for arts and aging programming
- participating in a range of art making projects, including an “Art of Aging" visual arts exhibitions
Where:
Through the National Institute of Senior Centers and the National Association of State Arts Agencies, the National Center for Creative Aging has identified twenty states that will participate in the campaign.