The Sutton Place Hotel
Edmonton, Alberta

~ Please share with others who might be interested in participating in the symposium. ~

• schedule/ sessions >> Click Here
• call for posters >> Click Here
• networking opportunities >> Click Here
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Creative aging is an important emerging field. Research affirms that older people benefit from arts participation – they live longer, healthier lives!

Organized as part of the Creative Age Festival,  our 2nd annual symposium will showcase various initiatives and opportunities that are enhancing the depth and breadth of the field of arts and aging. This symposium will provide you with an opportunity to energize and revitalize yourself by exploring new ideas, developing skills, sharing information and identifying opportunities for collaboration and growth in relation to creative aging.

Be inspired by the many interesting and timely presentations on best practices, innovations, and research at this year’s symposium!

Our lead keynote speaker, Dr. Gene Cohen will describe the benefits of the arts, including how artistic engagement enhances the function of the aging brain. He will also highlight how research and other approaches and structures can help to create a creative future for seniors in the millennium. jil p. weaving, Coordinator for Arts and Culture for the Vancouver Park Board, will describe the accomplishments and challenges of Vancouver’s three-year “Arts, Health and Seniors Project.” She will highlight the integral role of the community arts in relation to healthy aging strategies at city and regional levels.
An exciting learning opportunity, and unique professional development experience, the Creative Age Symposium will include a mix of presentations, film screenings and networking opportunities that promote understanding of the significance of arts and aging. For more information about:

• the symposium programme >> Click Here
• networking opportunities >> Click Here
  

We also invite you to consider submitting a poster to present as part of the symposium, for more information >>Click Here

Organizations interested in sharing information about initiatives related to arts and aging are also invited to approach the organizers to arrange for a table display >> Click Here

A celebratory reception will follow the event! >> Click Here

We anticipate that the symposium will be attended by decision makers, health professionals and arts and aging practitioners*, gerontologists, researchers, those working in arts, culture and heritage areas, students, interested seniors, senior arts practitioners, donors and others interested in the area of arts and aging. [ *Artists, art therapists, art educators, recreation therapists, occupational therapists, long term care workers, physicians, nurses, etc., as well others ].

We have a special registration offer for Greying Nation Conference participants! For more information about regular and special registration offers >> Click Here

Help us get the word out! Please share this information with others you know who might be interested in attending in the symposium!

Creative Aging: Creating Creative Futures!

As part of the Creative Age Festival, this symposium will showcase various initiatives and opportunities that exist to support the development of the field of arts and aging.

Keynote Gene Cohen, MD, PhD, Director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University and author of "The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life" More About Dr. Gene Cohen >> Click Here “Creating Creative Futures” abstract As our lead keynote presenter, Dr. Cohen will present on the benefits of actively participating in professionally conducted arts programs for older adults. He will describe the findings of a trial he conducted in three cities – Washington DC, New York City, and San Francisco – each with very well matched comparison groups. Benefits will be described in relation to the participants’ general health, mental health, overall functioning, and sense of well-being – with positive benefits observed across a variety of art media and cultural forms (painting, pottery, dance, music, poetry, drama, material culture and oral histories). He will outline qualities and best practices associated with the positive program impacts that were observed. A long-time advocate for arts and aging, Dr. Cohen will also highlight how research and other approaches and structures can help to create creative futures for older adults in the new millennium.

Keynote jil p. weaving, BFA, MA, Coordinator for Arts and Culture for the Vancouver Park Board. She has been involved in the research and development of the field of community arts for the past decade with the BC Arts Council and the Canada Council. For more information on jil >> Click Here “The Arts, Health and Seniors Project: Creating Creative Futures in Vancouver, BC” abstract>> Click Here

SYMPOSIUM OBJECTIVES

1. Increasing awareness of initiatives in different areas in support of creative aging;
2. Networking, and sharing information.
3. Contributing to directions for policy, practice and research.

VENUE

The Creative Age Symposium will be held on Friday, June 12th 2009 in Edmonton, Alberta. It will take place at The Sutton Place Hotel. A special room rate is available for Creative Age Festival delegates requiring accommodation. For more information >> Click Here

PLANNING COMMITTEE

For further information about the 2009 Creative Age Symposium, please contact:

Tel:      780-492-0980
Email:  pbrett-maclean@med.ualberta.ca

or

Cynthia Lewis – Symposium Organizer

Email:  cynthia.lewis@ualberta.ca