A white man wearing a dark grey shirt and white apron with short blond hair sits making pottery.

UA&M Secures New Funding for Creative Aging

The Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M) recently secured new funding from a national grant program to advance creative aging programs for older adults in Utah. 

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 — UA&M sought funding from the Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging program, a joint initiative of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) and Aroha Philanthropies. UA&M secured $60,000 for our project, called A Lifetime of Arts Elevated.

“NASAA is proud to have Utah in our creative aging cohort,” said Pam Breaux, NASAA President and CEO. “This grant will help to grow opportunities for creative aging in Utah 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.”

UA&M is one of 36 state arts agencies receiving awards from NASAA. With this funding, each state will conduct creative aging activities tailored to the unique needs of its constituents. To keep up with Utah’s rapidly growing older adult population, A Lifetime of Arts Elevated will foster a network of cultural organizations and artists trained in creative aging best practices to provide ongoing arts engagement opportunities statewide. The project will bolster existing creative aging programs, support artist residencies, provide professional development for teaching artists, develop creative aging communities of practice, provide direct programming to older adult audiences, and cultivate creative aging partnerships. 

For more information about NASAA’s Leveraging State Investments in Creative Aging initiative, visit their webpage, New Initiative Expands Creative Aging Nationwide.

UA&M is thrilled to advance creative aging across the state. We look forward to elevating the lives of all who live in Utah.

The logos of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and Aroha Philanthopies.