Creative Aging
Nevada Arts Council’s Creative Aging Initiative seeks to provide access to arts education and creative engagement to older adults throughout the state of Nevada. At the Nevada Arts Council, we believe that creativity knows no age. Our mission is to enrich the lives of older adults through the transformative power of the arts.
Creative aging is the practice of using artistic and creative engagement to enhance well-being, boost physical and cognitive abilities, and enrich our overall quality of life as we age. Whether you’re discovering a new passion, reconnecting with a long-lost hobby, or building lasting friendships, creative aging offers programs that inspire, empower, and promote wellness for older adults. We believe that this is essential to promote the health and wellbeing of our Nevada communities.
What We Do
Creative aging is a proven way to shatter chronic loneliness, which affects 25% of older adults. With the number of older adults aged 55+ set to increase significantly in the coming years, it’s more important than ever to create multi-sector plans to foster lifelong learning.
The Nevada Arts Council is a member of the Creative Aging in the West Project a partnership through Lifetime Arts and five Western states – Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. The Nevada Arts Council Creative Aging Initiative creates engagement through grant funding, professional development opportunities for teaching artists, and implementing programming throughout the state that offers engaging art classes tailored specifically for older adults. We’ve been able to place teaching artists and programs at public libraries, senior centers, and community-based sites close to where residents live, and have provided the funding needed to pay teaching artist fees and materials costs so that older adults can take these classes free of charge. We realize that there are opportunities to greatly expand this work through cross-sector partnerships and collaboration amongst key community stakeholders who are also as passionate about working with older adults and that’s why we have created the Nevada Creation Aging Coalition. In 2024, we convened our first gathering of this statewide coalition for those who attended our statewide conference, Intersections.
The Nevada Creative Aging Coalition connects stakeholders from the nonprofit, education, government, healthcare, and business sectors to join forces in promoting creative aging in Nevada. The coalition is dedicated to promoting and expanding access to creative aging programs, increase the funding potential for future programs, and to influence public policy to support a more holistic care for older adults through the arts. We also seek to educate the public on the benefits of creative aging and to build cross-sector partnerships that can help connect older adults to local arts-based experiences. The coalition advances its mission through statewide convenings, meetings, and email outreach.
Why Creative Aging Matters
Arts education is more than just an activity—it’s a pathway to personal growth, mental and emotional wellness, and a deeper connection to ourselves and one another. Studies show that engaging in creative pursuits enhances cognitive function, reduces feelings of isolation, and brings a renewed sense of purpose. Through the arts, we celebrate and help share the valuable wisdom, stories, and experiences of older adults.
Creative aging combats the dominant and often harmful narratives around aging to encourage the development of age-friendly and inclusive communities. Creative aging programs are designed to stimulate the mind, nurture creativity, and build vibrant, intergenerational communities where we can thrive at every age. These programs foster an environment where learning is fun, accessible, and fulfilling for everyone.
Join the Creative Aging Movement
Whether you’re an older adult seeking to find a local art class specifically tailored to your needs, a teaching artist who wants to offer creative aging classes, or a community stakeholder or organization that is passionate about finding innovative approaches to supporting older adults, we want to connect with you. Let’s work together to create a dynamic creative community where every voice matters. Let’s support the expansion and implementation of creative aging programs so that all older adults have access to the wonderful benefits of art education.
Nevada Arts Council Staff Assistance
Sogand Tabatabaei, Arts Learning Specialist