NEXT-LEVEL ART STUDIOS Another study by George Washington University and the NEA


showed that weekly participation in arts activities had positive ef- fects on the mental and physical health of people in their 60s and older. Results of the two-year study indicated that arts participants had fewer doctor visits, a lower incidence of falls, used less medi- cation than non-participants, and had higher morale. With this knowledge in mind, providers are including dedicated


art studios in new buildings or improving existing spaces to make them more inviting for residents. It’s part of a growing movement away from the conventional multipurpose room and toward pro- fessional-quality studios that any artist would love. Brightview Senior Living now includes art studios in all its new


communities. “Art is a big part of healthy living for seniors,” says Dori Ray, corporate director of vibrant living. “It incorporates mindfulness, fine motor skills, and hand-eye co-


ordination. It’s also an opportunity for creative expression, learning new cultures, and socialization.”


Designed to inspire In some cases, the impetus for creative spaces comes from the residents themselves. When architect John Cronin was designing the Meadow independent living building on the Masonic Homes campus in Louisville, Ky., he met a group of residents who asked him to provide an art room in the new structure. Their existing multipurpose workspace was shared by other hobby


groups and was located in a busy common area. The artists request- ed an arts-only space away from the hustle and bustle of community life. Cronin, senior design architect at AG Architecture, conferred with an artist on his design team to give them what they wanted. The resulting studio at Meadow is a two-story space with a


curved wall of north-facing windows to bring in diffuse light for painting. A windowed second-floor viewing area draws light into


A two-year study by George Washington University and the NEA among older adults showed that art activity participants had fewer doctor visits, a lower incidence of falls, used less medication than non-participants, and had higher morale.


24 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021


the adjacent corridor and allows the community to observe resi- dent artists at work without interrupting. In the main studio area, there’s enough space for classes of 10


to 12 students with easels to fit in comfortably. Locked cabinets provide a secure place for residents to store their personal supplies. Another part of the studio contains pottery wheels and workta-


bles. The kiln is housed in a separate space. The studio is located near the apartments at the back of the


building. It can be easily accessed by residents of other buildings via an exterior door near the parking lot. Resident response to the space, which opened in 2018, has ex- ceeded everyone’s expectations. “The classes have been so well well-received that we had to bring the art instructor from part-time to full-time with us,” says J Scott Judy, CEO of Masonic Homes Kentucky. Even with a full schedule, most classes fill up quickly.


Resident input and engagement While a great space is important, quality programming is key to success. Cronin’s experience with Meadow emphasizes the value of meeting resident needs when designing art spaces. He suggests surveying current and prospective residents to find out what kinds of creative activities they’d like to pursue, then planning spaces and programming to meet those needs. “Keep an ear on the types of people that are moving in,” he says.


“The Baby Boomers are moving in, and they’ve got sets of skills that the previous generations didn’t always have.” Having a high-quality studio space can entice new residents into


a community. “We’ve had people who have decided to move to Meadow for that very reason,” Judy says. “They want to continue learning, they want to continue to grow.” Providers should ask for feedback from current residents when


planning a renovation or new art room. Find out what kinds of projects they’d like to create in the new space and what classes they might want to take. Ask if they have any artistic skills or techniques they’d like to teach to others.


The right leaders To carry out the programming, communities should look for knowl- edgeable and personable instructors who have the ability to motivate and inspire residents without intimidating them. The instructor can be hired on as a staff member, brought in as a volunteer or contract- ed for a specific length of time or number of classes. Often, residents with art experience will enjoy teaching their peers. Because offering spaces and programming that appeal to existing


residents can help bring more like-minded new residents to the community, it can be worth it to renovate an existing space to meet those goals. Cronin is currently in the planning stages of a project that may


involve moving a community’s art space from an existing basement multi-purpose room to a street-front studio with large windows. In addition to giving residents a more inspiring place to work, the


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