New grants encourage creativity in the aging

The National Endowment For TheArts has new grant guidelines to actively engage olderAmericans in the disciplines of literature and/or music.

Approximately 15 grants will be awarded in the amount of $15,000 or $25,000 and require a one-to-one match. Applications must be submitted via www.grants.gov by May 23 for project support that would begin after Jan. 1, 2009.

Projects should be of national or regional significance, serve as models for the field, or provide an unusual or especially valuable contribution because of location in an area where programming involving older adults is underrepresented.

Projects must be limited to the disciplines of literature and/or music, focus on the involvement of older adults in the art form(s), employ professional artists, be planned and implemented in cooperation with the target population including local organizations that address aging-related issues and be fully accessible to individuals with various disabilities.

For more information, visit www.nea.gov/grants/apply/CreativityAging. html.