Creative Aging Grants
Creative Aging Grants support organizations offering teaching artist-led arts education for adults aged 60 and older, funding sustained learning that builds creative skills and social connections.
Funder: Vermont Arts Council
Due Dates: October 12, 2026 (Guidelines deadline) | October 13, 2026 (Website deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $6,000; average award $4,000; no match required
Summary: Supports teaching artist-led arts education and community building that develop creative skills and social connections for adults aged 60+.
Key Information: Organizations apply, not individuals; projects must provide multi-day instruction led by experienced teaching artists.
Description
The Vermont Arts Council’s Creative Aging Grants support organizations providing arts education and intentional social engagement for adults aged 60 and older. Funded projects combine sequential, skill-based instruction with opportunities to build relationships, led by experienced teaching artists in partnership with community organizations. Activities may be in person or remote, including photography workshops, storytelling and poetry projects, or home-based workshops that supply materials and support caregivers.
The program emphasizes a learning model rather than a health intervention model, challenging older adults to develop artistic skills through sustained instruction and practice. Priorities include accessible and affordable participation, community partnerships, and projects facilitated by Vermont artists, especially those on the Council’s Creative Aging Teaching Artist Roster. Grants are funded by the State of Vermont and the National Endowment for the Arts.
