In seven libraries across the County - older adults took part in more than 75 sequential, instructional arts workshops. From 60 to 95 years old, participants danced, painted, wrote memoirs and made collages, murals and ceramic tiles.

With great teaching artists, engaged and supportive library staff and "no previous arts experience necessary" these programs engaged older adults in new learning opportunities in comfortable, socially stimulating and "age neutral" community libraries.

A multidisciplinary project, participants wrote memoir "snapshots" and translated them into sketches and then into sculpted, glazed ceramic tiles. The tiles will be added to a frieze on the exterior of the library and the written memoir snapshots will be compiled into a book with photos of the corresponding tiles.

This 15 session series guided participants through an interactive process of documenting and exploring family history by creating a family tree through reminiscence, writing and illustration.

Bringing older adults together with experienced, mature local artists, this workshop engaged participants in creating a large public mural entitled “Scrambled Flowers” – in celebration of Peekskill’s Dutch background

Working with a writer and a visual artist through 10 collaboratively designed workshops, participants used memory as a primary source to create original work - both in literary form and then in collage.

Building on successful watercolor and acrylic painting workshops, this series of 9 instructional sessions taught participants basic drawing techniques with a thematic focus on the town of Somers. Workshops were enhanced with art history discussions and local sketching excursions in collaboration with the Somers Historical Society.

Over the course of 8 workshops, various acrylic painting techniques were taught through the unifying theme of landscapes.

Two simultaneous workshop series engaged participants in building towards a public dance performance at the library. Participants chose to attend either the ballroom dance workshop or the visual arts workshop where participants designed, painted and installed a stage set and program for the culminating dance performance. Workshops took place twice weekly for each group and accommodated 40 participants.

Riverfront Library created a Sanctuary for Creativity - an environment within the library where older adults can freely express themselves through the arts. Participants in this 8-week workshop interpreted their unique life stories through mixed media collage incorporating both words and imagery.

The National Center
for Creative Aging

Association of
Teaching Artists

National Guild for Community
Arts Education

Arts Westchester