FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky Arts Council is accepting applications for the Arts Access Assistance: Creative Aging and Lifelong Learning Grant through Oct. 6. The arts council will award $5,000 grants to 10 projects that foster opportunities for older Kentuckians to engage creatively.
Grants will be distributed to groups that directly serve individuals age 55 and older or communities of individuals with a majority of representatives age 55 and older. The funding will pay for arts programming for those whose opportunities to experience the arts may be limited by age, in addition to other factors like where they live, race or ethnicity, income or disability. These grants are not intended for arts organizations, but rather for other community-based agencies, government entities, and for-profit and nonprofit groups that will use the arts in service to older Kentuckians.
The goals of this grant program are to extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations, use the arts to enrich lives, promote lifelong learning in the arts and increase participation in the arts.
The application deadline is Oct. 6. Applicants can view grant guidelines and applications on the arts council’s website.
“The pandemic has brought into sharp focus the vulnerability of older Kentuckians to the effects of isolation, and the arts can be an integral tool in overcoming that isolation and becoming more connected,” said Chris Cathers, arts council executive director. “We are looking forward to seeing the projects Kentucky organizations propose that will serve our older residents.”
Recognizing that older adults have many contributions to make to their communities — but that they often face ageism and isolation and have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 — the arts council sought funding from the Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging program, a joint initiative of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and Aroha Philanthropies. Kentucky secured $60,000 to distribute as grants and to administer a Creative Aging Working Group and stage a Creative Aging Summit.
“NASAA is proud to have the Kentucky Arts Council in our creative aging cohort,” said Pam Breaux, NASAA President and CEO. “This grant will help to grow opportunities for creative aging in Kentucky over time, facilitating lifelong learning, joy, social engagement and improved well-being for older adults.”
“Aroha Philanthropies is proud to partner with NASAA to support creative aging through our state and jurisdictional arts agencies,” said Ellen Michelson, founder and president of the foundation. “This initiative marks an important step toward broadened awareness, adoption and funding of creative aging programs across the country.”
Among the partners the arts council will work with is the Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living. Victoria Elridge, commissioner of the department, said this opportunity is a valuable one for older Kentuckians.
“This grant will serve as a vehicle for Kentucky’s seniors to experience healing and meaningful practices as they start to grow out of the pandemic and resume purposeful community activities.”
The arts council will also form a diverse Creative Aging Working Group, with representation from various populations of older Kentuckians and the groups that serve them. The Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living will be a partner with the arts council in this working group, and the arts council is seeking additional partners to be part of the group.
In 2022, the arts council will also host a Creative Aging Summit, convening representative stakeholder groups from throughout the state for a daylong event to discuss how older Kentuckians can have better access to the arts and arts activities, and to develop ideas that can be taken back to Kentucky’s communities.
For information about new creative aging activities taking place in Kentucky or to request information on how to become part of the Creative Aging Working Group, contact Emily B. Moses at emilyb.moses@ky.gov or 502-892-3109.
For more information about NASAA’s Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging initiative, visit NASAA’s website.