The Chattery's Arts for Older Adults program is an initiative to provide adults aged 60 or older with free in-person workshops to learn, connect and grow. These workshops provide step-by-step instruction from paid instructors and supplies.

Classes take place in partnership with Chattanooga Public Libraries, City of Red Bank Parks and Rec, SilverTree Seniors Chattanooga and the City of Chattanooga. In the past five years, 361 people aged 60 and older have participated in our Arts for Older Adults classes.

Participants have gained new skills, made new friends and created beautiful works of art. As one participant commented, "I recently retired and find there is limited opportunity in Chattanooga for artistic (and fun) activities that bring together active and older adults like me. The drawing class helped me to learn how to focus and the oil paper class gave me an opportunity to use different approaches to being creative. The social part of the Chattery programs help motivate me to get out of the house. This gives me something to help my occasional isolation since many of my friends centered around work."

In recent years, funding for the arts has dwindled. As we look forward to the future, we know that the arts are essential to joy and quality of life. In order to continue to provide free classes for older adults, we are reaching out to our community to raise money.

Our $5,000 goal will fund 25 Arts for Older Adults workshops.