The Arts to Elders program brings art to the elderly residing in senior residences and care facilities with participatory visual arts and humanities presentations. The program has been in operation since July of 2007.  The idea for the program began when Sylvia White noticed that many of the elderly in town were not being served by Northwind’s mission which is  “…to connect arts and community”.  Elders who were home bound could not come to the art exhibits, lectures, poetry, drama and other activities sponsored by Northwind.  Her program brings arts and humanities programs to elders on site.

The program employs local professionals to visit seniors and gain their participation in activities like discussion of art history, culture expressed in music and singing, drama and poetry writing, and acting out personal experiences. White emphasizes that this is not a program about ‘filling time”. Rather it is about stimulating the inherent capacity of elders to learn and to think and act creatively.  Recent studies by neurologists, psychiatrists, and geriatricians demonstrate that people over the age of 75 continue to have a powerful capacity to process information, to think critically and to make new connections with their brains.

The current program began with three residences for seniors and one care facility and has expanded to four residences (Seaport Landing, San Juan Commons, Discovery Bay Apartments, and Victoria House) and the Kah Tai Care facility.  Harvey Putterman is the Program Director.  He works closely with the artists and the Activity Directors at each venue. White is responsible for writing grants and finding donations to support the program.

Harvey Putterman, whose fabulous commitment of time and energy has made this program a wonderful success, plans to step down in the near future.  Therefore we will be looking for a new Director for this modestly paid position. Applicants for the job should contact Sylvia White at (360) 379-6833.

Back from the Brink: Funding

Arts to Elders was rescued by the Port Townsend Arts Commission in 2009 with a grant of $1000 to fund the May and June programs.  In addition, a grant application for $2000 from the Jefferson County Community Foundation was been awarded to this valuable program.  These two grants will enable Northwind to continue the Arts to Elders Program into 2010. New contributions are needed now!

To donate online please use the GuideStar charitable organizations network, which directs donations made at the site to the designated registered non-profit organization. NOTE that the GuideStar donation page will show “Jefferson Arts Alliance, also known as Northwind Arts Alliance” until we complete the name change to Northwind Arts Alliance.  Please select the option to direct your donation to  “Arts to Elders”!

Donate at Northwind Arts Center, or by mail to: Northwind Arts Allliance, 2409 Jefferson St., Port Townsend, WA 93689. Please include a note directing the donation to “Arts to Elders”.

Many community organizations have contributed to this program, among them are the Humanities Washington Foundation, PT Friends of the Arts, Quimper Unitarian Fellowship, PSE Foundation, East Jefferson Rotary Club, and private donors.  Northwind and the senior residences donate space and facilities in kind to support the popular program.  As the program expands more donations to Northwind Arts to Elders Program are gratefully accepted.