Older adults have vital contributions to make to society as creators and community members. Abundant evidence shows that arts participation improves the emotional well-being of older adults, supports good health, strengthens social bonds, and brings a heightened experience of purpose and joy to our lives as we mature. However, older adults all too often experience the effects of ageism, isolation and limited access to meaningful arts learning experiences. State arts agencies can help to address these gaps by facilitating creative aging programming as an antidote to isolation, an affirmation of life and a pathway to flourishing for older adults.
Touchstone Center for Collaborative Inquiry: Creative Aging in America’s Libraries
National Guild for Community Arts Education: MetLife Foundation Creative Aging Program: Findings from the Inaugural Year
Entelechy Arts and The Albany [arts centre]: Age against the Machine – A Festival of Creative Ageing Evaluation Report
In collaboration with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) is proud to announce the award of $2,230,000 in creative aging grant funding to 28 state arts agencies. Part of NASAA’s new Creative Aging, Creative Futures initiative, these grants will help state and jurisdictional arts agencies promote creativity, learning, well-being and social engagement for older adults.
Grantee Information (password required)
In collaboration with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, NASAA made available up to $855,000 in grant funding for nine state arts agencies to strengthen meaningful arts learning experiences for older Americans. States Leading Creative Aging grant funded activities took place place between July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025. Please visit States Leading Creative Aging M to learn more about the states participating in this initiative.
Grantee Information (password required)
As part of our Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging initiative with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy, NASAA awarded $1,440,400 in grant funding to state and jurisdictional arts agencies across the country to grow their creative aging programs, practices and partnerships. State and jurisdictional arts agencies share a public mandate to make the social, educational, economic and health benefits of the arts available to all residents, especially underserved populations. Older Americans are an essential part of this commitment.
Our cohort of 36 grantees comprised 64% of all state and jurisdictional arts agencies, and included every region of the country, five out of six jurisdictions, and state arts agencies of every budget size. Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging grant funded activities took place between March 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022.
Please visit Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging to learn more about this initiative.
Creative Aging Professional Learning Community
Staff from state and jurisdictional arts agencies and regional arts organizations are invited to join NASAA’s Creative Aging Professional Learning Community, which is made possible by E.A. Michelson Philanthropy. Sign up for updates.
Creative Aging Institute
NASAA’s Creative Aging Institute provides online professional development focused on trends and topics in creative aging for all 56 state and jurisdictional arts agencies.
2023 Creative Aging Institute Playlist
2022 Creative Aging Institute Playlist
2021 Creative Aging Institute Playlist
More Learning Opportunities
Lifetime Arts: Creative Aging 101
Lifetime Arts: Creative Aging Foundations on Demand
Shifting Policy and Practice: New Opportunities for Creative Aging
E.A. Michelson Philanthropy: Vitality Arts
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts: The Academy for Creative Aging
NASAA expresses sincere appreciation to E.A. Michelson Philanthropy for its partnership as well as financial support of the States Leading Creative Aging and Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging initiatives. We salute E.A. Michelson Philanthropy’s visionary advocacy on behalf of the creative capacity of adults 55 and better. 
From top:
Young@Heart Chorus; photo courtesy of Young@Heart. Explore their concert footage on YouTube
Photo courtesy of E.A. Michelson Philanthropy
Teaching artist Sangue Mboup with participants and family members after a New Jersey workshop in African drumming; photo by Erik James Montgomery
Photo courtesy of E.A. Michelson Philanthropy
Photo courtesy of E.A. Michelson Philanthropy
A creative aging design class at ARCHbeta; photo by Ryan Leighton, courtesy of Maine Arts Commission
Photo courtesy of E.A. Michelson Philanthropy
