In 2024, with funding received through a federal grant,* the library began a program series called “The Creative Age,” art courses taught by professional instructors at the Columbia and Callaway County Public libraries for those age 55 and older. Through the Missouri State Library, we connected with the nonprofit Lifetime Arts to develop our program. Lifetime Arts is advancing a national creative aging effort and promoting the strong link between adult well-being with social and arts engagement.
Ensuring continued funding for this initiative is a high priority for the DBRL Foundation.
The Need
The World Health Organization has been tracking research into the effects of the arts on health and well-being, and they have found that “results from over 3,000 studies identified a major role for the arts in the prevention of ill health, promotion of health, and management and treatment of illness across the lifespan.”
The Daniel Boone Regional Library wants to provide more learning opportunities of interest to our aging population.
According to COMO Business Times, “by 2030, the number of Missourians age 60-plus will be statistically equal to the number of youth ages 20 and under for the first time in history. A November 2022 state budget report from the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging, or ma4, also highlights the rapidly aging population, noting ‘exponential growth’ that is ushering Missouri through ‘a historic demographic shift.’” In Boone County, “the 65-and-older age group increased by almost 65 percent from 2010 to 2021.”
The Opportunity
High quality arts programs provide a satisfying and enriching experience for older adults as well as improving their health and well-being. One of the students from our 2024 session of “The Creative Age” shared the impact of the program:
“This class inspired me to pursue other areas of art. I have contacted art teachers and will be receiving introductory instruction in sketching and pottery. Through this class I have also connected with a local art and craft group that meets weekly that I will be joining. I feel greedy making this request after being provided with such a wonderful experience, but I would be absolutely thrilled if similar classes could be offered in other areas such as sketching, pottery, or knitting … maybe even playing the harmonica or dulcimer. The possibilities are endless, now that you have fired us up! Thank you for this experience!”
In a satisfaction survey answered by 2024 students, 87.5% rated the program as “excellent,” 81.3% felt they experienced personal growth in a wide range of areas and 81.3% agreed that the classes improved their creative expression. These results and comments made by the participants indicate that there is a strong interest for the library to continue offering “The Creative Age” classes.
The Challenge
Unfortunately, the grant support for this program ends in June, 2025. We need your support to continue offering these classes that give older adults a chance to socialize and to keep their minds active by learning new skills and engaging their creativity.
Our Fundraising Goal
Help fund this program for another year. To offer two more eight-week sessions at the Columbia Public Library and two more eight-week sessions at the Callaway County Public Library we need to raise a total of $4,500 — $1,125 for each class series. That covers what we pay the professional instructor to conduct the classes and the cost of supplies. There is no charge for the art students who participate.
Please help older adults improve their quality of life by giving to continue “The Creative Age” series. For questions or to make a donation over the phone, contact Joseph Facteau, DBRL’s Development Manager, at (573) 817-7023 or jfacteau@dbrl.org
*The Creative Age classes are supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
