Lower Manhattan Cultural Council – Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide Residency

Disciplines: Dance, Health/Wellbeing, Music, Social Practice, Theatre, Visual Arts, Performance Art, Writing.

Eligibility: Only NYC residents who are 18 years of age or older and who are not currently enrolled full-time in a degree-granting institution.

Session: 6 months, January – June

Description: Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide (SPARC) is a community arts engagement program that places artists-in-residence at senior centers across the five boroughs of New York City. The program provides selected artists with a stipend in exchange for the creation and delivery of arts programming for seniors. Artists will engage participating seniors in an art project or series of cultural programs over the course of the residency, which will also include a public program component –exhibits, readings, performances, open houses or other cultural interactions open to the surrounding community. This initiative seeks to connect artists with seniors in senior centers and aims to positively impact the well-being of older adults through arts-based activities. SPARC seeks to place artists who are sensitive to the needs of older adults and who are interested in engaging their communities. Each senior center is unique and offers access to different types of spaces, resources and communities. Selected artists will work with the senior center where they are placed to further refine project goals and coordinate a schedule for residency activities and use of facilities.