Lifelong Arts Indiana Research

To evaluate the impact of the Lifelong Arts Indiana program, the Indiana Arts Commission engaged the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community (UIndy CAC) to conduct a rigorous evaluation process resulting in some of the most robust research findings on creative aging programming in the country.

Findings of the research on include that Lifelong Arts Indiana:

• improves the mental health of older adults.
• has even more significant impacts on well-being in rural communities.
• creates meaningful employment opportunities for artists.
• creates sustainable community partnerships.
• is a solution for the issues impacting older adults’ well-being.

UIndy CAC conducted the Lifelong Arts Indiana evaluation using a variety of research methods, including interviews with participants, artists and site partners; surveys of training participants and older adult project participants; site observations; and document review. The evaluation scope was robust:18 project facilitators were interviewed one-on-one, 18 project sites were observed in person by trained evaluators, and 322 surveys were collected.

Notable within this valuable data is a nationally validated survey of health, the short-form-12 health survey (SF-12). The data from the SF-12 forms indicates that participants in the Lifelong Arts Indiana program report higher levels of well-being in both physical and mental health compared to the national average. In particular, statistically significant improvement in mental health among Lifelong Arts Indiana programming participants indicate that improvements in well-being are a direct result of participating in Lifelong Arts Indiana.

Nationally, an evaluation of this size and scope has not been done on a creative aging program for nearly two decades. This research contributes critical new knowledge to the field of creative aging, providing evidence to support the case that high-quality, sequential arts activities led by trained artists significantly improves the mental health of older adult participants and serves as a cost effective, critical resource to combat social isolation.

Read an Executive Summary of the research conducted by UIndy CAC.

Read the full Research Report on Lifelong Arts Indiana.

About Lifelong Arts for Artists

Lifelong Arts for Artists was a learning opportunity for Hoosier artists to develop their skills in providing creative experiences for older adults. Informed by field best-practices, Lifelong Arts Indiana empowered participants to develop their own approach to sharing creative experiences with older adults, ages sixty-five and older, in their community—and provided access to funds to help make it happen.

Lifelong Arts Indiana for Artists included:

• Creative Aging Learning Course: Participants learned and explored best practices and strategies for developing an effective, sequential arts learning experience for older adults. This was a 3-day online learning course for artists.
• Coaching Part 1 –Project Planning: Following the learning course, sessions with field experts provided personalized guidance for building an effective creative experience for older adults.
• Coaching Part 2 -Partnership Building: This next step coaching helped participants build strong cross-sector partnerships for their creative aging projects.
• Early Action Grants: A funding opportunity to put the Creative Aging Learning Course lessons into action.

2021 Artist Cohort:

The 2021 Lifelong Arts Indiana Artist Cohort received training in the fall of 2021 and had the opportunity to apply for fellowship funding to lead a series of programs for older adults in their communities in 2021 and 2023. The participating artists were:

• Angie Andriot (New Albany)
• Mary Ardery (West Lafayette)
• Dawn Kirsten Batson (Indianapolis)
• Leota Bauman (Valparaiso)
• Michal Ann Carley (Bloomington)
• Karen Chilman (Commiskey)
• Janet Chilton (Carmel)
• Lynn Darda (Winamac)
• Kenya Ferrand-Ott (West Lafayette)
• Melissa Gallant (Indianapolis)
• Sandra Gay (Indianapolis)
• Devon Ginn (Indianapolis)
• Emily Guerrero (Fort Wayne)
• Jean Harper (Uniondale)
• Portia Jackson (Indianapolis)
• Tammeron Jonesfrancis (Muncie)
• Elizabeth Leachman  (South Bend)
• Debra Levy (Fort Wayne)
• Wacey Robertson (Terre Haute)
• Darlene Rosario-Reese (East Chicago)
• Greg Rose (Indianapolis)
• Paula Scott-Frantz (Indianapolis)
• Peggy Taylor (Westphalia)
• Jennifer Weinert (Kewanna)
• Roberta Wong (Indianapolis)

View the 2021 Fellowship Descriptions of the 2021 Artist Cohort.

View the 2023 Fellowship Descriptions of the 2021 Artist Cohort.

2023 Artist Cohort

• Andrea Kleesattel, Bloomington
• Audrey Williams, Bloomington
• Cara Schmitt, Munster
• Cheryl Hunt, Hartford City
• Daren P. Redman, Nashville
• Delores Thornton, Indianapolis
• Diana Wentzel, Kokomo
• Elijah Stephen, Indianapolis
• Elizabeth A. Guipe, Indianapolis
• Ellery Diaz, Indianapolis
• Janelle Slone, Angola
• Jessica Renslow, Gary
• Julie McColly Hill, Indianapolis
• Kate Ellis, Bloomington
• Kierra Ready, Indianapolis
• Kristina Neal-Mosley, Gary
• Laura Rach Krell, Indianapolis
• Lillie Evans, Indianapolis
• Nelsy Marcano, Michigan City
• Samuel Barnett, Gary
• Sonja Lehman, Greenwood
• Richelle Brown, Indianapolis
• Rebecca Rayls, Kokomo
• Alia Hawkins, Gary
• Alicia Sims, Indianapolis
• Amanda Wagner, Goshen
• Audrey Johnson, Lafayette
• Celeste Lengerich, Fort Wayne
• Chris Acton, Chesterton
• Claire Lacy, Monticelleo
• Clare Longendyke, Fishers
• Derek Tuder, Indianapolis
• Diana J.Ensign, Indianapolis
• Ellen Mensch, Fort Wayne
• Emily Bennett, Terre Haute
• Jill Mires, Madison
• Laura Krentz, La Porte
• Madeline Richardson, Hammond
• Melli Hoppe, Long Beach
• Michal Ann Carley, Bloomington
• Nancy Garner, Jeffersonville
• Oksana Komarenko, Muncie
• Paul Nethercott, Indianapolis
• Sam Bartlett, Bloomington
• Teresa Vazquez, Fort Wayne
• Yemina Concepcion, Hobart

View the 2023 Fellowship Descriptions of the 2023 Artist Cohort.

View the 2025 Fellowship Descriptions of the 2023 Artist Cohort.

About Lifelong Arts for Aging Services Providers

This Lifelong Arts Indiana Creative Aging training was for professionals in the Aging Services Community (e.g. area agencies on aging, senior centers, and other community-based senior serving organizations) and developed:

• Theory: Creative Aging training participants learned the overall importance the arts have for older adults, including the historical and evidence-based knowledge.
• Step-by-Step Planning Support: Aging services professionals learned a variety of creative approaches, and all the logistical action steps they needed to begin implementing creative arts in their services.
• Practical Application: Through hands-on learning and affirmations from participants’ own experiences, aging services professionals gained a comprehensive understanding of the impact and outcomes of including creative arts into their services.
• Grant Support: Aging services professionals who completed one of the four sessions were eligible and encouraged to apply for the Lifelong Arts Early Action Grant to receive up to $5,000 to hire a qualified artist to provide multi-day arts learning at their community site.

Trainings took place on April 28, 2023 (in Fort Wayne), June 23, 2023 (in Bloomington), and November 14th, 2023 (in Gary). Review the training workbook.

Following attendance at a training, aging services providers were eligible to apply for an Early Action Grant to put the lessons learned at the training into action. Read the project descriptions of the Early Action Grant recipients.

2024 Library Programming

On March 26th, 2024, a library-specific Lifelong Arts Indiana training was held virtually. Following the training, Indiana libraries had the opportunity to host creative aging programming in their communities.

View the 36 libraries that received training and grant funding through Lifelong Arts Indiana.

2024 Lifelong Arts for Arts Organization Recipients and Projects

• The Honeywell Foundation, Inc. (Wabash, IN) - Senior Perspectives: Observational Art Class
  Honeywell’s Senior Perspectives: Observational Art Class offered older adults the opportunity to engage in two series of 8 weekly art classes, each led by professional artist and teacher Danielle Winger. Hosted at the local senior center, this program was designed to empower participants to explore their creativity, build social connections, and culminate in a community art exhibition, fostering self-expression and active engagement within the community.
• Iibada Dance Company (Indianapolis, IN) - Seasoned Feet
  Participants rediscovered the joy of dance with Seasoned Feet, an 8-week program starting September 23, meeting every Monday at Iibada Dance Studio in Indianapolis. Designed for movers aged 55 and above, participants explored modern dance techniques, multi-cultural dance, and performance, creating a vibrant community of seasoned dancers.
• South Shore Arts (Munster, IN) - Every Generation: "Without Limitations"
  Participants met at South Shore Arts’ Munster location or the partnering location in collaboration with Northwest Indiana Community Action. Program participants had the opportunity to participate in three 6-week courses covering 2D/3D, Textiles, and Printmaking.  Instructors provided a bilateral framework of traditional (hands-on-materials) vs digital (hands-on-device) curriculum and increased attendee confidence in both arenas as well as engaged them in socialization through a variety of arts processes.
• Art Barn School of Art, Inc. (Valparaiso, IN) - Art Within Reach: Drawing and Creative Watercolor
  Art Within Reach was an 8-week drawing/painting class series for adults 65+ that taught fundamentals of composition, form, color, shading, and technique, along with discussion, feedback, and support from experienced instructors. The program introduced seniors to creative expression in a supportive environment, provided them with the vocabulary to talk about their goals and artistic process, built social connections to enhance quality of life, and organized an exhibition and public reception showcasing their work in an intergenerational community setting at the conclusion of the program.
• Fort Wayne Dance Collective, Inc. (Fort Wayne, IN) - Apple City Dance Project
  Fort Wayne Dance Collective worked with the Renaissance Pointe YMCA, located in southeast Fort Wayne, to provide 8-week dance sessions designed specifically for adults ages 55 and up.  Each dance session focused on creating a welcoming and fun environment where participants learned a variety of basic dance steps in different styles, while having input on music selection, and the chance to work as a group to create movement inspired by their lives.
• Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette, Inc. (Lafayette, IN) - Playback: Moving Through Our Memories
  Playback: Moving Through Our Memories was an 8-week program consisting of 90-minute sessions where senior students worked with trained teaching artists on movement, storytelling, and improvisation to unlock memories they most wanted to explore. These elements combined created a form of devised theatre which is the process of collaboratively creating a new work without a pre-existing script. There were multiple 8-week sessions within the grant period, with sessions being held at Westminster Village, Joyful Journey, and University Place. The goal of the programming was to teach the art form of storytelling in a unique and theatrical style that inspires participants to master scene-writing, acting, directing, collaboration, and staging.
• Heartland Sings Inc. (Fort Wayne, IN) - Timeless Tunes for All Singers
  Through communal singing, senior singers saw improved well-being in areas of their lives such as their cognitive function and memory, respiratory and heart health, human connection and socialization, and musicianship skills. By taking the steps to prepare music and a performance, participants addressed these multiple areas and health needs to have a successful culminating performance.
• ArtMix Inc. (Indianapolis, IN) - Narrating with Colors
  ArtMix's program, "Narrating with Colors", was an introductory painting class designed to combat social isolation and build community for aging adults with and without disabilities. Throughout the eight-week session, attendees learned foundational painting skills while engaging in weekly group discussions about the story of their life. The culmination of the class will be a collaborative mural that weaves the artists' stories together.
• The Jack & Shirley Lubeznik Center for the Arts (Michigan City, IN) - 2D Art and Design
  Participants met each week for 60 minutes over an eight-week period. Class began with an introduction to a specific technique and the related vocabulary. Each artwork had a general theme or style upon which the class focused, however individual creative choices allowed participants autonomy over the final product. Participants were encouraged to share ideas and experiment with unique materials to inform their work during studio time. Peer critiques focused on positive feedback concluded each project with a final art show as the culminating event.
  
  
  

  Lifelong Arts for Arts Organizations was made possible by a grant provided by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies in partnership with E.A. Michelson Philanthropy.

  

Next Steps for Lifelong Arts

In Fall of 2025, the Indiana Arts Commission will be releasing a handbook on how to launch creative programming for older adults in your community, informed by the learnings of the Lifelong Arts Indiana program.

Fill out this interest form to receive a copy of the handbook.