A Note From the Director
When I was director of the Johnson City Public Library in Tennessee, I was introduced to a national initiative called “Seeding Artful Aging.” The program’s goals were to demonstrate the power and impact of creative aging programs and to encourage the development of arts education programs for older adults.
JCPL received a grant and successfully piloted over 10 “Creative Aging” programs over two years, and I, as their director, was able to oversee remarkable programs teaching Appalachian music, creative writing, sculpture and photography.
The enthusiasm and success of the programs prompted me to look for something similar that I could support in Missouri in my next role as Missouri’s State Librarian. What was it about these “Creative Aging” programs that I felt was so important for libraries to consider offering? Part of it was the fact that the fastest growing demographic is Americans aged 65 and older. Libraries have long focused on our role in developing young readers and youth programs and services have long been the bread and butter of public libraries. Not a lot of focus has been placed on providing substantive, enriching programs for those 55+. Part of it was a recognition from my own mother’s life that loneliness and a need for creative interaction is, for many, a natural component of getting older. When she joined a writers group at 67, I saw an unexpected, yet remarkable, change in her health and well being. Probably, though, what most stayed in my mind, and still does today, is the pride and joy I saw these programs bring to the participants and their families.
A study was done in 2006 by Dr. Gene Cohen at George Washington University that looked at individuals from 65-103 years old, with some in a control group (participating in their usual activities) and some in an intervention group (participating in professionally conducted arts programs). The results showed that those in the intervention group needed less medication, had fewer doctor visits, reported less depression and loneliness and had more independent functioning.
Creative arts programs also are key in fighting ageism, or discrimination based on age, by redefining how society views older adults. When older adults are able to highlight their strengths, or gain new strengths, they are positioned to showcase themselves as active creators and learners. Culminating events, which are an integral part of the Creative Age program, allow participants to share their work with the community which can also transform perceptions of aging.
When the opportunity to partner with the State Library of Wyoming presented itself, I was eager for Missouri’s libraries to be professionally trained on how to present programs that focus on enriching older adults, which is how DBRL was first able to offer “The Creative Age” classes in 2024. We completed our second round of classes in April, and the reviews have been outstanding.
Feedback about “The Creative Age” programs:
“Jenn (the instructor) did an excellent job! She encouraged personal creativity and brought out our inner artistic selves.”
“This was fun. Other participants are the best. I’ve made friends!”
“Midway through the course, I was diagnosed with cancer. This class gave me the peace and confidence I needed to move forward in my creativity and healing process. Thank you!”
Our hope here at DBRL, funding permitting, is to continue with these classes in the fall and then again next spring. For more information about “The Creative Age” program, contact Community Outreach Manager Abbey Rimel at arimel@dbrl.org or 573-817-7044. To donate to support future classes, please reach out to Development Manager Joe Facteau at jfacteau@dbrl.org or 573-443-3161.