Business, Cultural, Education, Events, Family, Local, News

Sedona Arts Center — FREE TALK (Oct. 3) – Arts Participation for Healthy Aging

by Community Contributor • October 2, 2023 • Comments Off

Creative Aging
The Arts are Great for your Health

Fulfilling arts experiences enliven your body, mind, and spirit and spark imagination. The therapeutic benefits of regularly partaking in meaningful arts activities are endless and this is especially important as we age. A 2006 landmark study by the National Endowment for the Arts confirmed the relationship between creative expression and healthy aging. Over the course of three years, the Creativity and Aging Study tracked more than 300 individuals (aged 65+) across the country to evaluate the effects relevant to general health, mental health, overall functioning, and sense of well-being in older individuals. What were the results? Better health, fewer doctor visits, and less medication usage; more positive responses on mental health measures; and more involvement in overall activities. From painting, poetry, and pottery to music, theatre, and dance, it was clear. The arts are great for your health!

Almost 20 years later, Creative Aging—the practice of engaging older adults, aged 55+, in participatory, professionally run arts programs with a focus on mastery of new skills, social engagement and life review—is a national movement and Sedona Arts Center is leading the way for communities in Northern Arizona. As a nonprofit educational institution, our staff and instructors are dedicated to nurturing lifelong creative discovery, learning, and sharing through arts education and artistic development for community members of ALL ages. In October, we are kicking off our new Creative Aging program with two not-to-be missed events, beneficial for individuals, caregivers (family and friends, too!) and teaching artists.

SPONSORED BY ISABEL & DAVID SIMMER

Join us for a special talk led by Heather Mulder, Associate Director of Outreach Research at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute/ Banner Sun Health Research Institute and then an online training for teaching artists with Tessa Windt.

Arts Participation for Healthy Aging
Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 4pm
FREE event at Sedona Arts Center, Art Barn

Join us for a special talk featuring Heather Mulder, Associate Director Outreach Research at Banner Alzheimer’s Institute/ Banner Sun Health Research Institute.

Research shows that participating in the arts may improve health, cognitive function, memory and improve self-esteem and well-being. Heather will share her expertise and knowledge and how she has seen innovative programming increase the quality of life for people living with dementia and those who care about them. Q and A to follow along with an update from our CEO, Julie Richard, about Sedona Arts Center’s development of a new Creative Aging Program. This talk is free and open to the public.

Heather Mulder has over 25 years of varied experience in the fields of aging and Alzheimer’s disease. She infuses strong communication skills in her educational and program development, understanding that speaking in a language that is understandable and relatable is the first step to building a relationship of trust. She has a particular interest in reaching underserved populations with experience in rural and Native American urban and tribal communities. Heather founded Shine Your Light Chorus in Phoenix, AZ is on the Board of Giving Voice and hosts the Dementia Untangled podcast.

Introduction to Creative Aging
for Teaching Artists
Satday, October 7, 2023, 10–11:30am
FREE ONLINE Event

This online session for artists teaching in all media aims to provide an experiential, reflective and practical introduction to the role of teaching artists in the field of Creative Aging. This is an invitation to consider among peers how to translate your creative and teaching practices to new populations, new contexts and new perspectives. Attendance at Heather Mulder’s talk is a pre-requisite for this session.

Materials list:
8.5/11″ sheets of paper – a few
18/24″ newsprint or similarVariety of black and white mark-making materials: Charcoal, pencil, ball point pen, markers, ink/brush, black water-based paint of any kind/brush, conte, gesso, eraser, grease pencil…

Tessa Windt has worked for over two decades at both the community and individual levels on such issues as aging, Alzheimer’s Disease, family caregiving, veterans and adolescent Traumatic Brain Injury. Tessa has designed and implemented results-oriented programs for older adults for more than a decade, using creative engagement to address the isolation that so often accompanies aging and increase long-term physical, social and emotional health and wellbeing. Tessa has facilitated groups and individuals aged 55 to 103, from active retirees to individuals facing physical and cognitive challenges and their family caregivers, in settings as broad as adult day centers, long-term care facilities, and arts venues. She has developed and implemented community-based programs that exemplify best practices in the field of Creative Aging, as well as moved the field forward as a mentor, professional development consultant and conference speaker and panelist.

Our mission is to connect, enrich, educate and lead through the inspiring power of the arts and creative discovery.

Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the nonprofit is based in Uptown Sedona and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley.

NO SALES TAX – FREE PARKING – UPTOWN SEDONA
Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases
without sales tax (an almost a 10% savings!)
SedonaArtsCenter.org