A research study about the impact of creative aging arts programming for older adults has been released.
The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) and the Center for Aging & Community at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy CAC) partnered for the study, which was announced in June. The study is part of the IAC’s Lifelong Arts Indiana programming, a multi-year initiative designed to “bring evidence-based participatory arts programming to older adults across Indiana to improve health outcomes,” according to a press release.
“Lifelong Arts Indiana has been a multi-year effort from our agency and partners to improve health outcomes and reduce social isolation among older Hoosiers through art and creativity,” Miah Michaelsen, executive director of IAC, said in a statement. “We are grateful for the research of the UIndy CAC to validate the impact and importance of this work and to help us to encourage its utilization across Indiana and beyond.”
The Lifelong Arts Indiana program’s first phase trained artists and service providers to work with older adults on a specific participatory arts platform, according to a press release. Lifetime Arts, a national creative aging training and programming provider, led the training alongside Jon Kay of Traditional Arts Indiana, Anna Ross of Audiences Unlimited and IAC staff.
After training, artists, art-based organizations, libraries and older adult serving organizations could apply for funding to produce older adult programming that uses the Lifelong Arts Indiana programming model.
Since 2021, more than $500,000 in grants have been invested into artists, organizations and libraries, and more than 2,400 older adults across 44 counties in Indiana have been served through this programming.
UIndy CAC used various research methods while conducting the Lifelong Arts Indiana evaluation, including interviewing participants, artists and site partners; surveying training participants and older adult project participants; site observations; and document review. The evaluation scope included 18 one-on-one interviews with project facilitators, 18 project sites, which were observed in person by trained evaluators, and 322 collected surveys, according to a press release.
According to the research study, Lifelong Arts Indiana programming was found to have done the following:
- Improve mental health among older adults.
- Significantly impact well-being in rural communities.
- Create meaningful employment opportunities for artists.
- Create sustainable community partnerships.
- Provide a solution to issues impacting older adults’ well-being
Having been nearly two decades since an evaluation of this size and scope was performed on a creative aging program nationally, this research provides critical new knowledge to the creative aging field.
Evidence gathered in the study supports the case that “high-quality, sequential arts activities led by trained artists significantly improve the mental health of older adult participants and serves as a cost-effective, critical resource to combat social isolation,” according to a press release.
Funding for the Lifelong Arts Indiana programming is provided by IAC, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Aging and Division of Mental Health and Addiction, E.A. Michelson Philanthropy and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.
IAC is also developing a guidebook on how to launch creative programming for older adults in communities, furthering the Lifelong Arts Indiana work, according to a press release. For more information or to receive a copy of the guidebook, sign up here.
IAC is also seeking external funding to continue the program throughout the State of Indiana. To read an executive summary of the Lifelong Arts Indiana research, visit in.gov/arts/files/IAC_Lifelong-Arts-Research-Executive-Summary.pdf. To read the full report, visit https://www.in.gov/arts/files/IAC_Lifelong-Arts-Research-Report.pdf.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
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