TN Arts Announces New Creative Aging Tennessee II Grant
By Kim Johnson, Director of Arts Access
Through the generous support of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in partnership with Aroha Philanthropies, TN Arts is pleased to announce the new Special Opportunities: Creative Aging Tennessee II Grant open to Tennessee nonprofit arts, senior service or community organizations, and governmental entities offering sequential arts learning for seniors aged 60+. The purpose of the grant program is to support organizations to reduce social isolation and loneliness and increase creativity and artistic techniques among participants. This program builds on previous work in creative aging by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Mirroring U.S. trends, Tennessee (TN) is undergoing a major demographic shift, as older adults become a larger portion of the population and the older adult population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. The number of Tennesseans ages 60 and older, currently at 16% of the state’s population, is projected to grow from an estimated 1,574,911 in 2017 to over 1,787,000 in 2021 according to the TN Commission on Aging and Disability’s Tennessee State Plan 2017–2021. Participation in the arts can enhance and transform the lives of older adults to reduce social isolation and loneliness. Research shows that through the arts older adults are redefining stereotypical attitudes and perceptions about aging and increasing engagement in activities that will have a lifelong impact on their learning, engagement, and connectivity in their communities.
There are many types of programs that can be created to achieve these desired outcomes but for this initiative, an emphasis is placed on programs that equip artists, arts organizations, and other service providers to:
- Respect the high capabilities of older adults by challenging them to develop their artistic skills and creative techniques
- Offer sequential arts instruction that allows participants to broaden or deepen their creative practices in a sustained and organized fashion
- Deepen community or social engagement
- Employ teaching artists trained to understand the effects of aging and their significance for the design and delivery of arts programs that meet the specific needs of this population
The Creative Aging Tennessee II Grant is available now for projects occurring between August 1, 2021 through June 15, 2022. Funding is distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis by geographic location until funds are expended and paid on a reimbursement basis for submitted applications that are complete. Applicant organizations are eligible to apply for up to $3,000 to pay for contractual artist fees and/or supplies.
For more information, see the Creative Aging Tennessee II grant guidelines or contact Kim Johnson, Director of Arts Access, at kim.johnson@tn.gov or 615-532-9797.
