Celebrating Arts for Senior Engagement Festival

Artists don't retire. They keep on making art. And that's what Celebrating Arts for Senior Engagement, a 10-day festival throughout St. Louis April 28 through May 7 is all about. With a jam-packed schedule of at least 70 arts events spread out among 40-plus venues, Celebrating Arts for Senior Engagement is an event that some are saying they haven't seen the likes of before.

Art has the ability to keep people young in spirit and recent discoveries show that when “older people become involved in culturally enriching programs, they experience a decline in depression, are less likely to fall and pay fewer visits to the doctor.” ¹

Celebrating Arts for Senior Engagement is the first area-wide festival dedicated to the St. Louis region's older adult population. From St. Louis Art Museum to several area galleries, libraries, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Missouri Botanical Garden and more, arts events and programs can be found for people of all abilities.

“The ability to appreciate and create art doesn't stop just because we're getting older,” said Lynn Hamilton, creator of Celebrating Arts for Senior Engagement through the nonprofit Maturity and Its Muse. “This festival is about enjoying life and having fun.”

Celebrating Arts for Senior Engagement is an opportunity for people across St. Louis, especially older adults, to get involved with the arts in many different ways from dancing and singing to movies, art exhibits and more. One of the great things about the arts is it gives you ideas and causes conversations to happen.

The majority of programs are free, however some do require registration or a small fee. You can find out about the variety of events by clicking here and then guide yourself to the months of April and May. You can also find a more detailed listing of events that you can print out by clicking here.

 

The 70-plus events include:

Sat., April 30, 11a.m. – 1p.m.

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, 1 Brookings Dr, St. Louis, MO 63112

Memories are not just “in our heads.” The stories of our lives are whole-person experience. Come and see paintings in the permanent collection at the Kemper Art Museum, where we will bring our experiences to life, explore the mind/body connection and discover ways in which memory can be unlocked through movement. Those interested may register at 314.935.7918 or allison.taylor@wustl.edu. Parking and directions to the Kemper Art Museum may be found at http://kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu/

 

Sun., May 1, 2:00 – 3:30p.m.

Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110

Saint Louis Art Museum Tour: Free drop in tours led by our engaging senior docent guides. Tours will highlight works in our permanent collection that showcase the creativity of older artists and topics relevant to later life. This event is handicapped accessible.

 

Tues., May 3, 6:30 – 7:30p.m.

Craft Alliance, 6640 Delmar Blvd, STL, MO 63130

Free Poetry Reading with Michael Castro and Shirley LeFlore: Michael Castro is the poet laureate of St. Louis, MO and a founder of the literary journal River Styx. Shirley LeFlore is one of St. Louis’ most influential performance poets and has been a part of many underground activist poetry organizations including the Black Artists’ Group and Harmony. This event is handicapped accessible.

 

Wed., May 4, 10:00 – 11:30a.m.

COCA — Center of Creative Arts, 524 Trinity Ave, St. Louis, MO 63130

Move for your health/Dance for your spirit: Alice Bloch leads a movement class designed especially for seniors emphasizing core strength, balance, and creative movement. Then she and her dancers perform the hilarious “Old Lady Skin,” plus selections from her repertoire and choreography by the revolutionary modern dancer, Isadora Duncan.

 

¹ New York Times article “ Using the Arts to Promote Healthy Aging,” March 7, 2016

 

This is not an AARP sponsored program.  Any information you provide to the host organization shall be governed by its privacy policy.