Exhibit marks Scarborough elders as diverse, multilingual storytellers
“On April 19, Scarborough Arts presents the Healthy Arts for Seniors (HAFS) Exhibition Opening Reception and Anthology Launch, showcasing photography, poetry, fiction and non-fiction prose, and audio recordings created by 18 Scarborough seniors as part of the HAFS program.
Exploring themes of family, immigration, aging, triumphs and sorrows, and love and loss the exhibition and anthology illuminates the hidden worlds of some of Scarborough’s most talented elders, depicting the diversity of their experiences as told against the diverse and multicultural backdrop of our beloved Scarborough.
This year, we are particularly excited to welcome a diverse group of program participants, including the first-ever group of Mandarin-speaking seniors. As a result, all materials in the exhibition, anthology and audio recordings will be available in both English and in Mandarin.
The Healthy Arts for Seniors program was developed by Scarborough Arts in an effort to break patterns of isolation amongst seniors and provide an opportunity to explore what it means to build healthy lives through the arts in an inclusive and welcoming environment. The program, which ran from October 2017 to April 2018, engaged 25 seniors as it travelled to East Scarborough Storefront in South Scarborough and then to Agincourt Community Services Association in North Scarborough. Participants met weekly and learned about the creative and technical aspects of photography, creative writing, and oral storytelling.
“I believe the HAFS program, a cornerstone of Scarborough Arts’ program offerings, truly encourages participants to experience their own personal renaissance as they engage with a multi-media approach to artistic self-expression and self-actualization,” says Derek Spooner, Scarborough Arts’ Executive Director. “Join us for this celebration of artworks directly from the hearts and minds of Scarborough’s elders. Healthy Arts for Seniors is for everyone.”
The Healthy Arts for Seniors Exhibition Opening Reception and Anthology Launch will take place on Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Scarborough Arts’ Bluffs Gallery on 1859 Kingston Road. The afternoon will feature live readings by seniors, food and refreshments, and an opportunity to mix and mingle while viewing the exhibit.
The Healthy Arts for Seniors exhibit runs from April 5 to 27, 2018. It is curated by Diana Nazareth, HAFS Program Facilitator and Coordinator.
For more information about Scarborough Arts’ Healthy Arts for Seniors program, visit www.scarborougharts.com/HAFS-2018.
The Healthy Arts for Seniors program was made possible through the support of the City of Toronto, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Ontario’s Seniors’ Secretariat. We also acknowledge the support of our program partners: East Scarborough Storefront and the Agincourt Community Services Association.
ABOUT SCARBOROUGH ARTS
Scarborough Arts, a non-profit charitable organization, is the only arts organization of its kind specifically serving the Scarborough community through innovative arts and culture programs for citizens of all ages. We bring arts to the community and community to the arts.”
-from Scarborough Arts press release
Read Scarborough Arts’ profile in ArtBridges’ Community-Engaged Arts Directory and Map
