Flagstaff Creative Aging Festival

A day of interactive workshops, resources, and presentations exploring the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The Flagstaff Creative Aging Festival on September 7th will feature community programs that promote arts for elders and people with memory loss. Creative Aging is a national movement aimed at advancing the understanding of the vital relationship between creative expression and healthy aging. The purpose of this workshop and concert is to inform the Flagstaff community about the innovative, creative endeavors taking place in Northern Arizona with the aging population. Workshops will take place at the Peaks Senior Living Center from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Ariel Roddy and Craig Yarbrough from NAU will lead a music workshop that explores music's ability to relax the body, mind, and soul, and introduce a larger curriculum developed to improve wellness for aging adults. Molly Fulton from Oakwood Creative Care will facilitate a watercolor art project designed to bring out the inner artist! Music Therapist Meghan Callaghan will lead engaging, participatory experiences that explore the benefits of music for well-being through voice and rhythm. The evening program will take place from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Coconino Center for the Arts. The focus of the first hour is to present opportunities for elders and individuals with memory loss in the Flagstaff community that encourage participation in the creative arts. A flute duo from the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra will perform, highlighting the FSO's community opportunities. Also performing will be The Mountain Tremors, a joyful community choir for people with neurological conditions, their families, and friends, implemented by the NAU Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Oakwood Creative Care will introduce the new Flagstaff Day Club starting in October. Performances by Meghan Callaghan and Josh Hill will highlight programs supported by the Greg Hill Fund for Music in Dementia. Following a 10-minute intermission, Josh Hill will present a 30-minute multimedia performance, "Cowboy Dream, a son's caregiver journey," a work that explores the enigmatic and mystical side of caregiving through original songs, stories, and ritualistic sonic exploration.