‘Creative Age Symposium’ examines role of the arts in health, wellness

ST. GEORGE — “Enrich your life! Do something positive! Celebrate the great things in life! Write your story!”

Those are words of advice from Paula Bell, chair of the Arts Council of Washington County and primary organizer of the “Creative Age Symposium.”

The symposium begins Friday evening and continues through Saturday at the Delores Doré Eccles Fines Arts Center on the campus of Dixie State University.

The conference is expected to appeal to a wide range of people. Bell said:

This multidisciplinary conference will address artists, art therapists, recreation/activity coordinators, aging services and healthcare professionals, service organizations, caregivers, healers, elected officials, policymakers, funders, change leaders and active adults seeking opportunities to expand their horizons and improve the quality of their lives.

The symposium will encourage attendees to examine the role the arts play in promoting health and wellness for seniors. It will also give participants an opportunity to develop strategies to bring creative expression to their communities.

Those in attendance may network with other professionals interested in pursuing creative aging programs that provide information, opportunities and inspiration to seniors.

Hyrum Smith, co-founder of Franklin Covey, will speak at the Creative Age Symposium, photo date and location unspecified | Photo courtesy of Arts Council of Washington County, St. George News
Hyrum Smith, co-founder of Franklin Covey, will speak at the Creative Age Symposium, photo date and location unspecified | Photo courtesy of Arts Council of Washington County, St. George News

The conference opens with a dinner presentation by Hyrum Smith, co-founder of Franklin Covey, and a silent auction to benefit the “Music and Memory” program through Memory Matters.

In addition to Smith, other keynote speakers include Greg Finch, field services director of the National Center for Creative Aging; Joné Law Koford, operations officer of Intermountain Healthcare’s southwest region; and Kelli Charlton, education director for the Center for Active Aging.

Workshops will be presented by leading certified art, music and drama therapists, community planners, medical specialists and more.

“Live your dreams,” Bell said. “It is never too late to learn to paint, to sing, to dance, to write … 25 amazing presenters will inspire you!”

Continuing education credits are available for a $15 processing fee. There is also a partial registration rebate available through Custom Fit and the Applied Technology Schools. Information on rebates will be available at the conference.

For more information on the Creative Age Symposium or to register, go to the Eventbrite link. Attendees can sign up for the conference using the discount code creativeage2016 for anyone under 62, or use the senior and student discount rate as it applies on Eventbrite.

Additional information can also be obtained from the organizers of the symposium: Telephone 435-673-4206 or 801-867-1867; email [email protected] or [email protected].

If attendees need a place to stay and haven’t yet made arrangements, Bell said, the arts council has blocked rooms at Coral Hills Best Western for a discounted price. Also, if anyone wants to purchase David Archuleta tickets for Saturday night at Tuacahn Center for the Arts, they may be purchased on Eventbrite at the time of registration for the symposium.

According to a media release, the Creative Age Symposium is sponsored by a stellar group of interested community groups including the Arts Council of Washington County, The Center for Active Aging, Intermountain Audiology, Dixie State University College of Arts and College of Health Sciences, Dixie Regional’s LiVe Well Center, Cherry Creek Radio, Kickin’ Country, KDXU, KSUB, Tuacahn Center for the Arts, SunRiver, the National Center for Creative Aging, Rotary Club of Dixie Sunrise Foundation, Proforma Business Communications, Washington County RAP Tax, EngAGE Utah, Memory Matters, SageHill CoHousing, AARP, Southwest Symphony Orchestra, Piano Gallery and Wal-Mart Foundation.

The Arts Council of Washington County coordinates and promotes leadership and policies that encourage and foster a strong, vibrant and cohesive arts community for the purpose of enriching the lives of county residents and visitors. This is primarily through professional development activities, cooperative planning, advocacy and promotion.

Event details:

  • What: Creative Age Symposium.
  • When: Friday, Nov. 4 – Saturday, Nov. 5.
  • Where: Delores Doré Eccles Fines Arts Center on the campus of Dixie State University, St. George.
  • For more information on the Creative Age Symposium or to register, go to the Eventbrite link. Attendees can sign up for the conference using the discount code creativeage2016 for anyone under 62, or use the senior and student discount rate as it applies on Eventbrite.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.