The Maine Arts Commission’s Creative Aging program is grounded in the belief that the arts play a powerful role in enhancing the quality of life of older adults. Designed to generate opportunities for lifelong learning, social engagement and mastery of skills, the program provides new creative possibilities for adults over 55.
Creativity is hardly the exclusive province of youth. It can blossom at any age—and in fact it can bloom with more depth and richness in older adults because it is informed by their vast stores of knowledge and experience.
Dr. Gene Cohen’s pioneering research in the field of Creative Aging demonstrated the beneficial role creativity plays in the physical and mental health of older adults.
—Dr. Gene Cohen, Geriatric psychiatrist
Creative Aging Teaching Artist Roster
This free online directory features Maine-based professional artists, trained in Creative Aging, who are available to conduct high-quality, participatory arts programs for older adults in a range of community settings including senior centers, libraries, assisted- and independent-living facilities, and cultural centers.
Click here to view the roster.
Interested in Being Part of the Roster?
Master artist Madeline Patenaude with
apprentice Peter Patenaude.
Photo: Victoria Patenaude
The Maine Arts Commission periodically offers a two-hour intensive training to teaching artists wishing to apply for the Commission's Creative Aging Teaching Artist Roster. This training is mandatory for applying to the Creative Aging Teaching Artist Roster, a prerequisite for applying to the Creative Aging Grant program.
To get on the list to learn more about the program and about when CA trainings take place, please complete this short form.
How to Apply:
Upon completion of the mandatory training you may apply through the Creative Aging Teaching Artist Application Form.
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- Mastery of an artistic discipline
- Experience in sequential arts instruction
- Familiarity with the field of Creative Aging.
- Good communication skills
- Planning and organizational ability
- Patience, resourcefulness and compassion
Additional Resources
National Center for Creative Aging www.creativeaging.org
Lifetime Arts www.lifetimearts.org
TimeSlips www.timeslips.org
Frequently Asked Questions
(l to r) Acadian woodcarver Tom Cote
with apprentices Ellyzabeth Bencivenga
and Jessica Stackhouse.
Photo: Peter Dembski
What is Creative Aging? Creative Aging is the practice of engaging older adults (55+) in participatory arts programs, with a focus on mastery of new skills, social engagement and life review. Helpful links are just above, in the Additional Resources section.
What is a teaching artist? A professional artist, who is dedicated to lifelong learning and arts education, has made it an integral part of his or her professional practice, and who has cultivated skills as an educator in concert with his or her skills as an artist.
What is mastery? The term 'mastery' means the development of a skill, technique or body of knowledge through practice, understanding and refinement.
What is sequential instruction? Sequential Instruction is participatory learning with each activity building on the one before it, usually increasing in difficulty or complexity.
What does social engagement mean? Social Engagement refers to active involvement with other people on both an individual and community level. Such opportunities enable older adults to make new connections, strengthen existing social networks and accomplish something of value and meaning.
Why do I need to have a six- to eight-week teaching plan? Adult learners are goal oriented and seeking challenging and creative learning experiences. Teaching sequential activities over this period of time encourages mastery of skills and social engagement with others.