Partnership Grant
ACHF Arts Access
Sixty Minnesota artists and arts organizations will participate in statewide professional development learning from the best national and state experts in the arts and aging field. 2: Minnesota artists and arts organizations will acquire teaching skills to work with older adults and explore alternative delivery models for engaging older adults in high-quality, meaningful arts experiences.
We selected 60 artists and arts organization personnel to participate in a training program that included: three days of intensive training in November led by local and national leaders in the field and then a follow-up day in February. In addition, we paired each participant with a mentor to develop a practicum goal and provide feedback, tips and advice on delivering quality arts curriculum for older adults. We enlisted the support of the National Center for Creative Aging and their evaluation staff and instruments. We conducted pre and post surveys for each session and each section of the training for the participants and also the mentors. These results are being compiled into a full evaluation report that will be published and used by other states. 2: Working with Susan Perlstein, the founder of the Arts and Aging movement and top local and national master teachers, we developed a comprehensive four day training program for participants. We focused on basic level understanding of key areas of the arts and aging field (mastery and socialization), and then conducted discipline-specific sessions that helped the participants learn practical tips, tools, techniques and approaches for working with older adults. Results indicate that the training was overwhelmingly successful. Of 50 participants, 33 (66%) rated the training as excellent, 15 (30%) as very good, and 1 (.02%) as good, with one person not reporting. Most Successful Aspects of the Training. Participants were asked to rate and comment on several aspects of the training, including the venue, schedule, networking opportunities, communication with ARTSAGE and mentor interactions. Networking opportunities with other teaching artists and communication with ARTSAGE prior to and during training both received high marks, with 34 (68%) and 33 (66%) participants rating them as excellent, respectively. Very high ratings were also given to the program planning panel, which received an excellent rating from 35 (70%) participants, and sessions on the creative aging field and aging, which were rated as excellent by 34 (68%) and 33 (66%) of participants respectively.
Other, local or private