What is Creative Aging?<\/b><\/p>\n
Creative Aging is a movement which recognizes the beneficial role of the arts in improving the quality of life for older adults and its contribution to their psychological, physical and emotional health. Over the past decade there has been a fast-growing field of Arts and Aging based on a growing body of research linking the arts and improved health. This \u2018Creative Aging\u2019 movement recognizes creative expression as a cornerstone for healthy aging.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Art4Life-UNB Research Project<\/b><\/p>\n Our research project aims to build on the research conducted in other jurisdictions and to increase awareness about how Creative Aging can be a useful policy tool in the Aging Strategy for New Brunswick.\u00a0 <\/span>Our primary objective is to demonstrate that regular art programs taught by professional artists\/art-educators promote health, well-being, and social inclusion of older adults.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Adults 65+ attended creative activities conducted by professional artists recruited by Art4Life Inc. from January 2020 until May 2021. The activities offered were two hours per week for a total 45 weeks in the Greater Saint John Area in four locations. They consisted of drawing, watercolour painting, acrylic painting, mixed media, collage, clay-work, sculpture, creative movement, and theatre. The UNB research team gathered qualitative and quantitative data at predetermined multiple points in time during the project, with the goal to measure impact of the activity on the health of the participants. The project report is due at the end of October 2021.<\/p>\n This project has been funded by the Government of New Brunswick under the \u201cHealthy Seniors Pilot Project Program\u201d. All the venues where the art activities were conducted were donated by community partners and stakeholders and we are grateful for the support of the Mayors and Councils of Saint John, Rothesay and Grand Bay-Westfield, the University of New Brunswick and the Saint John Art Center.<\/p>\n The Exhibition<\/b><\/p>\n The purpose of holding the exhibition is multifold:<\/p>\n The most obvious is of course to exhibit the art created by the seniors, to take pride in their artwork and encourage them to continue their creative journey.<\/p>\n But it also has other goals which are broader in scope and aimed for a wider audience.<\/p>\n We are having the exhibition:<\/p>\n Click the icons below to listen to the various groups’ versions of the radio play project:<\/p>\n\n
Radio Play<\/h5>\n