Arvada Center Receives $10,000 NEA Grant to Expand Arts for Ageless Adults Program

December 1, 2010

The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, through the Arvada Council for the Arts and Humanities, has received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to support and expand the Arts for Ageless Adults program during 2011.

“Part of the Arvada Center’s mission as the largest multi-disciplinary arts organization in the state is to continue to provide high quality, unique arts experiences for as many people as possible,” said Gene Sobczak, executive director of the Arvada Center. “With the support from this NEA grant, we hope to reach a new audience of nearly 4,000 with the expansion of the Arts for Ageless Adults program.”

Research indicates that older adults who are active participants in the arts live longer, have fewer health issues, and are happier and more socially engaged. The Arvada Center’s Arts for Ageless Adults program, which started in 1998, offers a wide selection of core classes that includes dance, ceramics, music, painting, and writing for retired adults and active seniors, ages 55 and older. 

The success of the Arvada Center’s Arts for Ageless Adults program is the result of the combined talents, skills, and experience of the education staff, contracted teachers, artists, and community partners. These instructors and artists are selected by their extensive qualifications, experience, and passion.

Building on the success of these classes, the Arvada Center recently added an outreach component to the program to attract a wider range of adults in senior centers, retirement communities, and care facilities. The funding from the NEA grant will be used to further expand this program to include Arts Day for Ageless Adults, a format of activities offered once a month from which seniors can pick and choose to create their custom-made experience. Using this “sampling” approach, these activities and classes though shorter and more general in scope are also more affordable than a regular tuition-based class and provides seniors the opportunity to experience a variety of programs that the Arvada Center offers.

An independent agency of the federal government established by Congress in 1965, the NEA, www.nea.gov, has awarded more than $4 billion in grants to advance artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation to benefit individuals and communities.

Dedicated on July 4, 1976, the Arvada Center, www.arvadacenter.org, was founded through a unique collaboration between the citizens and government of Arvada. Since its inception, the Arvada Center has offered year-round concerts and performances in theater and dance; art exhibitions; a history museum; and classes in ceramics, dance, writing, acting, and the visual and musical arts. The Arvada Center welcomes more than 350,000 visitors each year.

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Media contact:
Janet Braccio
jbraccio@arvadacenter.org
720-8987276