Community Arts Access Project

Approximately twelve teaching artists living in Brainerd/Baxter area community will gain, through completion of professional development training/mentoring program, the knowledge, experience and resources needed to implement and sustain arts programming for older adults while providing themselves opportunity for sustainable employment in 2016/17. Utilize outcomes of this pilot program in Brainerd/Baxter area to clearly define and refine a replicable model of the Rural Arts and Aging Professional Development Program to be implemented in three more area communities in Region Five, 2016/17. Fulfill a pressing regional community need and Screen Porch Productions’s mission for expanded access to arts programming that provides individual artistic growth and development and meaningful social connection specifically for older adults living in Brainerd/Baxter area community in 2016/17. Teaching artist trainees before/after goal assessment sheet show new learning and increased skills gained from professional development training; verbal evaluation/feedback group session at end of training assess preparedness and confidence to implement and teach arts programs; tracking number of new older adult arts programs implemented in target communities shows success of program and increased artist employment; attendance records for new arts programs show increased older adult participation in each community; evaluation/feedback from senior facilities shows increased individual social well-being of residents participants; fill-in evaluation form by participants shows increased artistic growth and overall satisfaction of arts program; photos document activity/product; Compile and assess all evaluation materials to improve ‘rural model’ for repeated use in three more rural ‘area’ communities.