Senior Art

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The mission of the San Bernadino County Department of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) includes the following provision: “Providing service to seniors and at-risk individuals to improve choice, independence and quality of life.” Over the past two years, DAAS has put into place an innovative program to help realize this mission. The Senior Art Program extends an invitation to artistically inclined senior citizens to create artwork that is put on display in DAAS offices. Seniors benefit by creating and sharing their work with the public, and the public benefits by viewing and appreciating a wide variety of art styles produced by senior artists in their community. The DAAS Administration office was remodeled in 2008, presenting a need for updated wall décor. Instead of purchasing art or borrowing are from the San Bernadino County Museum, a request went out to all county senior centers to solicit work from senior artists attending their art classes. The objective of the Senior Art Program is to tap into the existing artistic talents of senior citizens within San Bernadino County. In doing so, the creative talents of senior citizens are developed—helping them individually, as well as providing something of value to the public. As an added benefit, the Senior Art Program may have a positive impact on both the physical and mental wellbeing of the elders participating in the program, possibly reducing the need for medical intervention and long-term care.