Culture

Aging and the Arts: Expert to Give Talk at OU


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On April 3, national aging expert Linda Noelker will deliver a talk on how older adults can stay healthy by participating in the arts.

Noelker, senior vice president of the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging and board president for the National Center for Creative Aging, will discuss:

• Research evidence that older adults’ participation in creative and performing arts programs results in improved health and well-being

• Available resources for delivering evidence-based art programs to older adults

• The network of Cleveland arts organizations and artists with aging services organizations, the Encore Artists Project

The event, sponsored by Ohio University’s Vice President for Research and Creative Activity and College of Fine Arts, is designed to stimulate conversation and collaboration between individuals involved in the arts and health fields, both at the university and in the local community.

“The College of Fine Arts Task Force on Arts and Wellness has been exploring ways in which our arts programs can assist research on wellness both on the Athens campus and in the larger community. Linda Noelker is a national advocate for the arts as a component of healthy aging. We look forward to her visit as an event for the entire campus community,” said College of Fine Arts Dean Margaret “Peg” Kennedy-Dygas.

There are several interdisciplinary research projects on campus that are exploring the connection between creativity and aging. One example is a new pilot project on Creative Arts as Medicine Programs (CAMP) that has gained support through the Appalachian Rural Health Institute (ARHI) in partnership with the Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI) and the Athens Area Citizens for the Arts, a regional partner of the Ohio Citizens for the Arts foundation.

“Opportunities to bring together the expertise of our faculty and the energy and creativity of our students with the vibrant area arts community will benefit Ohio University and our region,” said Joseph Shields, vice president for research and creative activity and dean of the Graduate College.

The event will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3 in 400 Glidden Recital Hall. It is free and open to the public.