The COVID-19 pandemic and events of the past year have accelerated and amplified many existing societal challenges, particularly those in the areas of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI). Among those crucial challenges is that as people age, they are often pushed to the margins of society.

Extensive research shows the transformative effect that arts engagement can have on health and aging, but we face a cruel paradox. As people age, they often have both more time and an increased desire for creative outlets, but fewer opportunities to meet these needs.

This free, highly interactive virtual summit will provide museum professionals with inspiration, tools, and connections to help them serve the growing and underserved population of people who are “55 or better.”

The half-day program will include:

• • A keynote on aging and equity by Daphne Kwok, Vice President of Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Asian American & Pacific Islander Audience Strategy at AARP
  • An interactive workshop by the staff of Lifetime Arts—national leaders in creative aging program development.
  • Learning from Experience: Older Adults, Ageism and What Museums Can Do About It, a panel discussion featuring Toya Northington, Community Outreach Manager at the Speed Art Museum; Eli Burke, Education Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson; and Jill N. Smith, Director of the Union County Heritage Museum.
  • Breakout discussion rooms will give attendees the opportunity to engage more deeply with the speakers and panelists.

The summit will help directors and senior leadership assess how to partner with funders to integrate older audiences, as critical consumers and supporters, into their museum’s long-term plans for sustainability.

The summit will introduce education and programming staff to creative aging programming and provide a map for exploring the practice in greater depth.

For anyone, the summit provides a compelling vision of how museums can foster healthy aging in America, and offers a starting point for advancing this work.