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AARP AARP States Virginia Events

Calling All Artists

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ENRICO BOSCARIOL

Fairfax County, the Arts Council of Fairfax County, AARP Virginia and several community groups will hold a Creative Aging Festival in May 2015.

The month-long festival will include a reception at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads to launch the festival on May 1, followed by events at various public and private venues throughout the month.

If you are an artist or an organization that sponsors art programming for older adults, we hope you will consider applying to be part of this terrific festival!
The online application must be submitted no later than February 20.

The festival will feature a wide range of arts programs including poetry, visual arts, theater, dance and music held at venues throughout the county.

It will also include programming that unlocks the creative spirit including yoga and Tai chi. Examples include:

• An open house allowing guests to participate in an organization’s dance, music, visual art, yoga, gardening programming;
• A speaker on art, gardening, yoga, etc.; or
• An older adult artist, writer, actor, poet, dancer or musician to speak about their art.

Many Fairfax County programs including libraries, senior centers, adult day health care centers and park programs are planning to be involved. There will also be events located in surrounding jurisdictions.

The festival’s objectives are to:

• Encourage audiences for the arts, especially for art created and performed by older adults;
• Encourage older adult participation in the county’s many public and private art programs;
• Promote public understanding of the benefits of older adult participation in the arts;
• Establish the festival as an annual event occurring each May in celebration of Older Americans Month.

Contact Julie Ellis at Julie.ellis@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-765-4573, TTY 711 for information about the program/event application process.

Festival partners include (at this writing): the Arts Council of Fairfax County, the Fairfax Area Commission on Aging, the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, Public Libraries, Adult Day Health Care Centers, Long Term Care Coordinating Committee, George Washington University, the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations, the National Center on Creative Aging, Goodwin House at Alexandria and Bailey’s Crossroads, AARP Virginia, and Pure Prana Yoga Studio.

The festival supports Fairfax County’s 50+ Community Action Plan’s initiative to promote art programming for older adults.

Photo: iStock.com/Bosca78

 

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