Sheridan researcher leads initiative celebrating arts participation by older adults

Join Sheridan on September 24, 2020 in celebration of Arts and Aging Day Canada – a day devoted to highlighting arts-based activities for older adults across social media platforms.

Based on the work of Arts in Care Homes in the UK, Arts and Aging Day Canada aims to use social media to highlight the positive effects of arts-based activities in long-term care homes, retirement communities, seniors centres, and community organizations across the country.

Sheridan is known as a global leader in creativity, innovation and research excellence, with the Sheridan Centre for Elder Research unique in its role as the sole Canadian college research centre focusing on older adults. Arts and Aging Day Canada is presented by Dr. Kate Dupuis, Schlegel Innovation Leader in Arts and Aging at Sheridan College and professor in the Faculty of Applied Health and Community Studies at the College. Dr. Dupuis’ research relates to the creative and performing arts in older adults, and how participation in the arts can serve to enhance the health and well-being of older adults and those who care for them.

“We are delighted to be joining our UK colleagues in creating the first of its kind Arts and Aging Day Canada,” said Dr. Dupuis. “We hope that the day will be an opportunity to highlight and share the exciting arts activities being engaged in by older adults and their friends, family members and care partners, from coast to coast to coast. Arts and Aging Day Canada is a chance for us to learn more about what different organizations are doing and create nation-wide connections in the field of arts, health, and aging.”

At Sheridan, for example, the Centre for Elder Research hosted its first Art Hive in early 2020 as a way for participants of all ages to explore creative capacity, while building a stronger, inclusive and more welcoming community through the arts.

Sheridan invites organizations to share their arts activities, creations, and experiences through social media. From choirs to poetry, visual arts to dance, Arts and Aging Day Canada is about highlighting all the ways the arts are engaging and supporting Canadian older adults, both in-person and virtually.

Getting Involved

Step 1: Take a photo, write a blog post or make a video of an arts-based activity at your organization. Do this ahead of time or on the day, make it as simple or as detailed as you want, whatever is easier for your organization.
Step 2: Write a social media post and add the hashtag #ArtsandAgingCA.
Step 3: Share the post on social media on September 24, 2020.
Step 4: Follow #ArtsandAgingCA and get inspired by the incredible work happening across Canada that brings the arts to older adults.

Follow #ArtsandAgingCA on Twitter and get connected with us to promote arts and older adults in Canada.

For more information or support on how to get started, please visit the Arts and Aging Day Canada Toolkit or email kate.dupuis@sheridancollege.ca.