A Report from Partners for Livable Communities
Funded by MetLife Foundation
Stories for Change, a report by Partners for Livable Communities funded by MetLife Foundation, offers leadership examples that expand the arts to new audiences. This compendium of nearly 50 best practices showcases the notable strategies that increase access to arts and culture for older adult and immigrant populations.
Newcomers and older adults (65 +) are two of the fastest growing populations—communities across the country are grappling with a demographic makeup that is increasingly diverse and proportionally older than in the past. Arts and cultural organizations have the opportunity to reach-out, to increase resources in the community, and to engage populations that are at risk for being overlooked.
Stories for Change is a compelling collection, brimming with new ideas brought to fruition by many types of organizations including: museums, libraries, community development organizations, theaters, orchestras, dance ensembles, area agencies on aging, transportation bureaus, parks, botanic gardens, universities, and more. Organizations that hope to enhance the lives of their older and immigrant residents can find approaches portrayed in these Stories that can be adapted to meet the needs of their communities.
Best practices include the well-known Alzheimer’s Project of the Museum of Modern Art, which has been adapted to museums around the country, and Circle of Care, a unique ride share program that partners young people with older adults to attend free arts performances in Boulder, Colorado. Stories are located in rural, mid-size, and metropolitan settings; many can be easily implemented, and do not require a major overhaul of staffing, operations, or an organization’s mission.
You will find many remarkable programs that make the arts and culture tools for change, enabling immigrant and older populations—and everyone—to thrive.
Stories for Change can be downloaded at www.livable.org/storiesforchange.
Stories for Change PowerPoint Presentation:
Accompanying the 2012 Stories for Change report is a PowerPoint presentation available for download. This presentation is for community residents, city leaders, arts and cultural institutions, and many more to share the great stories of innovation and creativity featured in the report. Partners hopes that the presentation will spark new discussions in the community for reaching out to older adults and immigrants through the arts.
The Stories for Change PowerPoint can be downloaded here.
For more information regarding Stories for Change, or on Partners arts and new audiences initiative, please contact Liz Bieber at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .