Professional Development Opportunity for Artists and Arts Organizations

In 2012, ARTSAGE (formerly MN Creative Arts and Aging Network) received a
Partnership Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to provide a professional
development opportunity for 60 Minnesota professional artists and arts organization
personnel to increase their skills in working with older adults.

Goals for the project:

Artists and Arts Organization personnel selected to participate in this
professional development opportunity will:

• Modify their existing residency or teaching programs currently used for
students in school or community settings to work with older adult populations.

• Explore alternative arts delivery models that encourage arts access for older
adults, and

• Establish a peer network of teaching artists that work with older adults so
that they might engage in ongoing networking and become mentors to new artists
who enter the field.

Content/curriculum:

Utilizing leading local and national presenters in partnership with the
National Center for Creative Aging), mentors and resources, we will provide
training in key aging areas such as: changes in the brain accentuating
creativity, physical challenges, memory decline and the unique developmental
needs of legacy leaving, meaning making, and lifelong learning.

The core curriculum will include the following focus areas:

• Overview on creativity and aging- knowledge, best practices etc.,

• Understanding the aging process and the aging services field,

• Working with dementia, losses, and disability,

• Effective teaching design and practices for the older adult ,

• Translating your residency model/approach for an older adult,

• Exploring alternative delivery models to encourage arts access for seniors,
and

• Discipline specific practices and processes- peer learning, focusing on each
arts area- visual, music, theater, and dance & literary.

Delivery of Professional Development Training

The training will be highly experiential, giving participants a chance to
observe and practice activities and processes they can use with older adults.
It will be delivered in person and online. Group sessions will include a three
day conference November 12-14, 2012 at Riverwood Conference Center in
Albertville and then a one-day regional workshop held at four locations across
the state in February.

During the year, artists will stay connected through their online cohorts
(artists will be segmented into discipline specific peer cohorts of about 15
members). These cohorts will have learning time together at each of the group
meetings and then be led by a Mentor who will moderate the discussion groups to
share information, and provide information on best practices.

Fee to participate

There is no fee to participate. The MSAB grant covers all costs for
participants to receive 32 hours of training, materials, online mentoring,
meals, and housing. However, participants must pay for travel to attend the
three day conference in November and the one day regional training in February.

Selection Process:

Participant selection will be made by an Advisory Task Force of experts in the
field with a goal of including professional teaching artists working in all
disciplines and from across the state.

Timeline:

July 25, 2012 Applications available

August 30, 2012 Applications due

September 30, 2012 Participants notified

November 12-14, 2012 Three day conference at Riverwood

February, 2013 One-day regional trainings offered around the state

To apply, complete the application form on the following page and return by
August 30th.

For more information on ARTSAGE, visit our website at www.artsagemn.org.