How You Can Increase Social Engagement Through the Arts
How do you engage with the arts? Whether you’re working on a painting, singing or playing music, learning a dance or watching a play, these activities provide numerous opportunities for people to come together and have fun.
For older adults, participation in the arts allows for a chance to learn new skills, hone their passion and build connections with others. The chance to gather with others, take part in activities and share or learn new skills and interests is one of many ways to stay engaged.
Did you know October is National Arts & Humanities Month? Established in 1993, National Arts & Humanities Month is a chance to encourage participation in the arts and celebrate the role of the arts in promoting well-being and strong communities, making October a great time to bring clients together to connect through art activities!
Celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month by offering activities at your organization. We’ve got some great ideas to get you started.
Ideas to Celebrate National Arts & Humanities Month
Art activities provide opportunities for socialization, sharing, understanding and belonging, helping to increase social connectedness and build new relationships[i]. Bring these benefits to the older adults you serve with any of these fun activities:
Organizing group visits to art museums, plays, ballets or concerts with time set aside after for discussion.
Offering activities such as painting, quilting, pottery, collaging, jewelry making or creative writing.
Holding a standing and seated dance party with a playlist selected by participants.
Bringing in local teaching artists to provide education on different art disciplines and facilitate art making.
Conducting an immersive experience to engage the five senses through different art activities.
Spotlight on Arts and Creative Engagement Programs
Celebrating the arts and humanities doesn’t end with National Arts & Humanities Month. Offer arts and creative engagement programming year-round. Looking for inspiration? The Social Engagement Innovations Hub is the perfect place to start! Read on for some ideas of programs you can replicate within your organization.
Developed as part of the Intergenerational Leadership Institute at The Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, Weaving Wisdom brings together multiple generations to discuss how fabrics convey information about history, hopes and dreams of a given culture. Following discussion and sharing, participants complete a weaving or printing project.
Jewish Family Service in Salt Lake City, Utah, developed the Gleeful Choir for people living with dementia and their caregivers. The choir meets weekly at a local library for a one-hour rehearsal followed by 45 minutes of refreshments and mingling. This is an opportunity for both people living with dementia and their caregivers to connect with others and build lasting relationships.
The San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services partners with Bayview Senior Services in San Francisco, California, to provide culturally relevant creative arts activities for San Francisco’s Black and African American communities. Through activities like painting, beading, dancing and storytelling, the program celebrates culture, builds relationships and fosters dialogue between generations.
Interested in learning more about these three programs and others on the Innovations Hub? Visit www.engagingolderadults.org/hub!