MetLife Foundation has awarded Lifetime Arts, Inc. a $125,000 grant to expand their groundbreaking work in creative aging through partnerships with Boston Public Library, Dallas Public Library and Miami-Dade Public Library.  The MetLife Foundation Creative Aging Libraries Project is designed to increase the capacity of public libraries to serve older adults, provide models of high quality creative aging programs and raise public awareness about the benefits of these professionally conducted arts learning programs for older adults.

President/CEO of Lifetime Arts Maura O’Malley said, “Lifetime Arts is very grateful for MetLife Foundation’s pioneering support of “creative aging”.  This grant sends a clear message that our work at the intersection of aging and the arts is making a significant contribution to redefining aging in America. “

Beginning in the spring of 2012, Lifetime Arts will pilot creative aging programs in five libraries in each system.  Led by professional teaching artists, these instructional arts workshops (in all disciplines) will foster mastery and promote meaningful social engagement—two key ingredients for positive aging.  The program will serve up to 400 older adults through the workshops and as many as 2,000 people will attend culminating performances or exhibits at each participating library.  Ongoing training and technical assistance will introduce participating librarians to creative aging policies and best practices and provide access to arts and program resources and information.  Working with Lifetime Arts, the American Library Association’s Public Programs Office will promote the project nationally – providing access to project resources to thousands of librarians.

“MetLife Foundation is committed to making arts accessible to people of all ages,” said Dennis White, president and CEO, MetLife Foundation.  “We are pleased to support the Creative Aging Libraries Project to help public libraries strengthen connections with older adults through high-quality, participatory arts programs.”

This project builds on Lifetime Arts innovative work with public libraries in New York State. Current and upcoming projects include partnerships with New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, Westchester Library System and the Clinton Essex Franklin Library in upstate New York.