Teaching Artists - Creative Aging
Interested in developing high-quality, participatory arts programs for older adults? Contact us about the Creative Aging Teaching Artist Grant Program. If you have questions contact: Rebecca Cruse, Deputy Director, 605-773-5084 or Rebecca.Cruse@state.sd.us
Grants of $2,500 - $5,000 will be awarded to fund teaching artists working with adults in a range of community settings including libraries, senior centers, arts organizations, and assisted- and independent-living centers. Teaching artists MUST be willing to complete online professional development in the creative aging field OR have participated in past professional development offered through the South Dakota Arts Council or other qualified practitioners in the field.
Successful programs will:
- Engage older adults in meaningful, creative activity and sequential learning
- Incorporate creative aging principles of social engagement and mastery
- Recognize the contributions of older community members
- Promote intergenerational exchange
Grants are made directly to the individual teaching artist to carry out planning and instruction at the suggested rate of $50/hour. Up to 20 percent of grant funds may be used for supplies and marketing costs. Collaboration and partnership with a hosting organization is encouraged and allowed. Programs must be carried out between Sept. 1, 2024-June 30, 2025
How to Apply
Complete the Creative Aging Teaching Artist Grant Application Form at least 45 day ahead of your proposed project start date.
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- Mastery of an artistic discipline
- Experience, knowledge, and planning in sequential arts instruction
- Familiarity with the field of Creative Aging
- Participation in - past or upcoming - professional development in the field
- Good communication skills
- Planning and organizational capacity
- Patience, resourcefulness, and compassion
Additional Resources
National Center for Creative Aging: www.creativeaging.org
Lifetime Arts: www.lifetimearts.org
Time Slips: www.timeslips.org
National Guild for Community Arts Education: https://nationalguild.org/
Art for Life: Sundogs and Sunflowers: An Art for Life Program Guide for Creative Aging
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Creative Aging? Creative Aging is the practice of engaging older adults (55+) in participatory arts programs, with a focus on mastery of new skills, social engagement, and life review. Helpful links are just above, in the Additional Resources section.
What is a teaching artist? A professional artist, who is dedicated to lifelong learning and arts education, has made it an integral part of his or her professional practice, and who has cultivated skills as an educator in concert with his or her skills as an artist.
What is mastery? The term 'mastery' means the development of a skill, technique, or body of knowledge through practice, understanding, and refinement.
What is sequential instruction? Sequential Instruction is participatory learning with each activity building on the one before it, usually increasing in difficulty or complexity.
What does social engagement mean? Social Engagement refers to active involvement with other people on both an individual and community level. Such opportunities enable older adults to make new connections, strengthen existing social networks, and accomplish something of value and meaning.
Why do I need to have a six- to eight-week teaching plan? Adult learners are goal oriented and seeking challenging and creative learning experiences. Teaching sequential activities over this period of time encourages mastery of skills and social engagement with others.
Eligibility
Grants will be made to teaching artists who reside in South Dakota or who are serving South Dakota communities through this work. Exceptions will be made for communities that bridge state borders, particularly in the case of Native Nations whose communities may stretch into North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
There are no credentials required to be deemed a teaching artist for this program, but some specialized training/development in Creative Aging is a requirement of grant recipients. This training may be obtained through:
- Participation in the Lifetime Arts training sponsored by the South Dakota Arts Council in January 2022
- Past participation in other Creative Aging professional development
- Self-guided review of the “Thriving Better Together” and “Groundwork” Creative Aging webinars offered through the National Guild for Community Arts Education (grant funds may be used to pay membership for access to resources)
- Other upcoming professional development in Creative Aging (artist may seek other opportunities and use grant funds to access)
Funds must be expended by June 30, 2025.
Tips for Preparing Your Proposal
Unlike many grant programs, we do not need to see that you have everything planned and organized in advance of your application. This is because we would like artists to be paid for the planning and preparation as well as their active teaching time. The application will ask that you tell us your idea for a Creative Aging program.
The program MUST include 6-8 weeks of sequential, participatory arts instruction geared toward adults 55+. We recommend collaborating with one or more organizations in your community such as local arts organizations, community gathering places, and healthcare/housing agencies serving older adults. These organizations may provide support in the form of space to hold programming, supplies and materials, and marketing.
A strong proposal will show at least half of the artist’s hours will be spent in contact with adult learners. The other half may be spent on planning and preparation.
EXAMPLE: Please use this example as a guide for how a teaching artist may outline their project. Additional classes, hours, events, and partnership/sponsorship funds are allowed.
Artist applies for $2,500 to present an 8-week watercolor painting course.
- $500 (20% of grant) is used to purchase supplies and market the opportunity.
- Artist teaches two 90-minute classes per week starting with beginner techniques and helping students advance their skills throughout the course – 24 hours spent teaching.
- Artist collaborates with local arts council, which assists with marketing the course and organizing an evening art show and reception for participants at the end of the course – 6 hours.
- Artist spends 10 hours planning and preparing for the weekly classes.
- $2,000 is used as payment for the artist’s time at $50/hour.